The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-18 00:00:00

THE DRAINAGE AMENDMENT

ACT.

The following is an abridgment of the Bill introduced
by Sir George Grey and the Lord Advocate, for the
purpose of explaining and amending the Act passed last
session authorising the advance of money for the im-
provement of land by drainage in Great Britain:-
1. That the following may he included among the ex-
penses of works of drainage, in respect of which ad-
vances may have been made under the previous Act—
namely, the expense of making an ()Haan through other
land, or such part as the Commissioners may think rea-
sonable; the expense of making open drains and water-
courst s, including such open drains and water-courses
as may need frequent repair; and the expense of fencing,
trenching, and clearing the surface of the land to be
drained, for the purpose of converting the same from
waste or pasture into arable or tillage land, where it may
be necessary to secure and render productive the pro-
posed improvement by drainage; provided that it shall
appear to the Commissioners that in all such cases afore-
said, the works will effect an improvement in the yearly
value of the land, which will exceed the utmost yearly
amount which can be charged thereon under the said
Act in respect of the advance applied for.
2. That where, by the said Act, the plan, estimate,
and specification of the proposed drainage is required to
' be inspected or examined by, and to he annexca to, the
report of the assistant-commissioner, or surveyor, or
engineer, unless the commissioners shall otherwise di-
rect, to inquire into and to embody in his report such
pariculars of the land proposed to be drained, and of the
proposed manner of effecting the drainage, and of the
estimated expenses, as shall appear to him sufficient to
enable the commissioners to judge of the expediency of
an advance in respect of the proposed works; and that it
shall be lawful for the commissioners to certify their
opinion that an advance should be made in respect of any
works, notwithstanding any deviation from the proposed
manner of effecting the drainage, if such deviation Abell
appear to be expedient, and productive of improvement.
3. That all parties who shall have made applications
for advances under the said Act may at any time, be-
fore provisional certificates shall have been issued, by
writing addressed to the commissioner, withdraw or re-
duce the amount of the advances for which their several
applications are made.
4. That where separate applications shall have been
made by the same owner for several advances for the
drainage of several lands, or where successive applica-
tions shall have been made for an advance, and a further
advance for works of drainage on the same lands, it shall
be lawful for the commissioners (with the consent of the
owner for the time being of such lands). by their pro-
visional certificate, to declare such applications to be
consolidated and treated as one application, after notice
is given by advertisement, the same as under an appli-
cation for an advance.
5. That where a provisional certificate has been issued
under the said Act, it shall be lawful for the commis-
sioners to certify to the Commissioners of the Treasury
that an advance on account shall be made in respect of
any part of the proposed works which shall have been
actually executed, not. exceeding in amount the whole of
the sum then actually expended thereon.
6. That no provisional certificate shall be issued under
the said Act, unless it shall be shown to the satisfaction
of the commissioners, or security be given to their satis-
faction by the party applying for the advance, that the
works for which the advance is to be made may be com-
pleted within the period of three years; arid provided
that, if it shall appear to the commissioners that the
completion of the works within the time mentioned is
impracticable, it shall be lawful to the commissioners to
allow such further time as they shall think reasonable,
not exceeding two years.
7. That certificates and provisional certificates under
the said Act may be made in such form as the commis •
sioners shall think fit; and every such certificate and
provisional certificate respectively, when sealed with the
seal of the commissioners, shall be conclusive evidence
that all the applications and acts whatsoever have been
made and done by the persons authorised to make and
do the same, and that an advance may be issued by virtue
of such certificate, and that the land shall become
charged in respect of such advance.
8. That any owner of land to whom a provisional cer-
tificate shall have been issued under the said Act, or any
subsequent owner of such land, may assign such provi-
sional certificate, by way of security, to any person who
may have advanced, or may agree to advance, moneys
for the execution of the works therein mentioned; and
such assignee shall be entitled to claim and receive such
advances as the owner by whom the assignment shall
have been made might have claimed and received in case
such assignment had not been made.

MUSICAL MEMORANDA.
PHILHARMONIC.—It had been arranged, previous to
the rehearsal on Saturday, to commence the Philhar-
monic Concert with an overture, and conclude it with
a symphony ; but we believe that the plan heretofore
acted upon will still be adhered to—Haydn's symphony,
"La Reine de France," will open the performance ;
Beethoven's symphony, No. 1 (in C), will occupy the
place of honour, at the commencement of the second
part ; and the same composer's " Leonora" will finish
the concert. Miss Kate Loder will play a pianoforte
concerto, by Weber, in the first part ; and Sainton a
violin concerto by Mendelssohn, in the second.
ANCIENT CONCERTS.—A second change has taken
place in the arrangement of the Queen's Concerts of
Ancient Music. In consequence of an expectation that
the installation of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, will
take place at Cambridge, from the 3d to the Bth of July,
the eighth Ancient Concert will not take place until the
14th of that month; and the Messiah will be performed
on the 21st, so that the commencement week, &c, will
be clear of any musical performance of consequence in
London.
Madame Lecoy's concert at the Castle Assembly
Rooms, Richmond, on Thursday evening, was extremely
well attended by a highly fashionable and genteel au
dience. The vocalists were Caradori Allan, Madame
Lecoy, and Madame F. Lablache, Signor F. Lablacne,
and John Parry. The Diqin family perforated on the
Sax horns. Negri and Chaulicu conducted, and all went
off excellently.
SUSsEx HALL.—A concert was given on Saturday
evening, which attracted about 700 persons. Several
songs, duet..., trios, &c., were successfully sung by Misses
Poole, Isaacs, %Vortham, Barwick, and Sara Flower ;
Messrs. Sporle, Robinson, F. Smith, Percival, and John
Parry, and the encores were numerous. Director, Mr.
W. C. Percival. Conductor. Mr. F. Smith.
The Glee Club dined on Saturday at the Crown and
Anchor Tavern, when seve-ral very fine compositions in
parts:were well sung; and Bishop's charming glee, " Blow,
gentle gales," was loudly encored, the upper parts being
well sung by Mr. Turle's pupils.