The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-21 00:00:00

t A
DECEMBER
- 7 21, 1846. PRICE SD.

cessary to send parties of military and police in charge
of everything in the way 4,f provPsions coming to or
-going from Clonmel. Day .and night patrols are conti-
nually coming in and going out. Magistrates galloping
one way, and mounted orduslies another—all in confu-
sion, excitement, and dismay."
InPoRTANT TREASUIX MINUTE—DRAIN-
AGE WORKS —ENT AILED - ESTATES.
The Dublin Evening it of this afternoon contains
the following very importt,nt document, addressed by
the Trc asury to the Boord. of Works. The immediate
object is to increase, to tt.e fullest possible extent that
the existing law will permit, the facilities for extending
drainage and productive works. A supplemental minute,
dated the 15th instant, refers to contemplated changes
in the law, with a view of removing the impediments to
improvements on entaikd estate:, which, for instance,
operate so prejudicially in the case of the Marquis of
Cony nghatn.
We refer to Mr. Trevelyan's letter for an explana-
tion of the contemplated measure of the Government,
which is to empower landed proprietors to sell portions
of entailed estates, or enable the Government to do so
in case arrears accumulate, for advances made from the.
TreaSury for improvements. This is one of the most
important measures ever proposed, in regard to settled
estates, in this country

_ .
• "Treasury Minute, Dec. 1, 1846.
" My Lords have before them Mr. Redington's letter,
dated 11th ultimo, inquiring, by desire of the Lord--
Lieutenant, to what extent, and upon what terms as to
interest, and the period of repayment, their Lordships
'will sanction advances to parties who may apply
under the several enactments authorising loans for
the drainage and improvement of estates in Ireland,
`with the exception of the Act 9 and 10 Vic., c. 101, in
givio`g effect to which difficulties had been experienced.
"'Their Lordships also have before them a letter from
-the Board ofiVorks, dated the 14th instant, transmitting
a copy of a letter which had been addressed to their
chairman, by Mr. More O'Ferrall, M.P., containing
sug•g, stions as to the operation of the Drainage Act ,
and inquiring whether advances will be made from
the million voted for drainage in Ireland on the terms
specified in the 9th and 10th Vic., c. 101, although the
application for it be made under the provisions of the
9th Viet., c. 4.'
" My Lords proceed to consider the enactments re-
ferret to ia. the above-mentioned letters ; first, the Acts
for drainage in Ireland, 5 and 6 Vic., c. 89, emended by
8 and 9 Vic., c. 69, and 9 Vic., c. 4; and, secondly, the
provisions for the general improvement of estates in Ire-
land, contained in the 22d section of the Act 1 and 2
Wm. IV., c. 33, amended by 9 Vie., c. 1, s. 6.
" My Lords are of opinion that the most advantageous
mode of applying the provisions of the first series of
Acts, viz., the Drainage Acts, is that the Board of
Works should undertake the execution of such works as
are necessary for deepening, or removing obstructions
in rivers, their tributary streams, or larger watercourses
of the country, by means of which great improvement
may be effected in the main outfalls for the drainage of
considerable tracts of land. Such works can seldom be
accompliseed by any single proprietor, as these streams
and watercourses, forming the main drains, generally
pass through the estates of many different proprietors.
The difficulty which arises from this cause is obviated
by the power which the Board of Works possesses of
proceeding with the consent of a certain number of pro-
prietors, and of charging the repayment upon the lands
drained even of dissenting proprietors, in proportion to
thc,benetit conferred upon them.
" My Lords do not think that the agency of the
Board of Works can, as a general rule, be advan-
tageouelysapplieertn -draining- in detail—to astying down
draining:tiles, or, pipes, or stone-draining,; in each field.
This eleacriptibn of work, they are of opinion, can,
unless-aehen particular circumstances call for special
exception, be far more advantageously done by each
-proatietese for irimielf, on his own estate, the -improved
outfall for his drainage having been afforded, if neces-
sary, by the more general operation of the Board of
Works above stated.
Mr More. O'Ferrall, expressing the opinion of the
'magistrates,ratepayers, and principal inhabitant's of the
barony of Carbury, county Kildare, states in his letter,
a copy
• of which has been communicated to the Board of
Works, that the barony is bounded by two rivers, one of
which has already been opened, e.nd works on the other
are in progress for the same purpose, under the existing'
Drainage. Act ; and then proceeds to suggest that the
most advantageous mode of employing labour at present
in the barony would be for the Commissioners of Public
Works to open. the smaller tributary streams running
into these two rivers,- and thus to improve the outfall for
drainage throughout the barony—by this means afford-
ing to each proprietor the opportunity of more effectually
draining his own fields for himself.
" This view of the magistrates, ratepayers, &c., of the
:barony of Carbury, is in perfect accordance with the
ra,;aitires.contemplated by this board, as above stated.
"-My Lords are prepared, therefore, to sanction ad-
vances for such purposes, and will consider applications,
'drainage
to be dealt with on its own merits, for works of
under this series of Acts, the last of which
conferring more summary power of proceedings, is more
particularly applicable to the present state of things in
Ireland.
" Proceeding to the consideration of the second class
or enactments —i.e., I and 2 Wm., C. 33, a. 32, and 9
Vic., c. 1, s. 6—under which loans may be made to in-
dividuals, to enable them to effect the improvement of
their estates for themselves, by drainage, reclaiming
waste lands, or other works of substantial improvement,
my Lords are prepared to make advances to proprietors
who comply with the conditions of the 1 and 2 Wm.
IV., cap. 33, amended by 9 Vic., cap. 1, sec. 6, as to
the nature of the works, and who can obtain from a com-
petent person, approved by the Board of Works, the
certificate of increased value to be given to the land
improved, as prescribed by that Act. This latter con-
dition is necessary in order to protect the interests of
those who are to succeed the person in actual possession,
from having their future property subjected to a charge
for unsubstantial and improvident improvements.
" Their Lordships, however, desire that it may be
understood, that parties applying for loans under any of
the enactments above adverted to, must undertake to
submit to such terms, in respect to the period of repay-
ment, and such other provisions, as Parliament may,
hereafter enact.
" Transmit a copy of this minute to Mr. Redington,
for the information of the Lord Lieutenant and the Board
of Works."
MR. TREVELYAN TO THE COMMISSIONERS
01? PUBLIC WORKS.
December 15, 1846.
I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of her
Majesty's Treasury to inform you, with reference to the
minute of this Board dated the Ist instant, that their
Lordships think it advisable to furnish the following ad-
ditional'explanations on the subject of the arrangements
contemplated by the above-mentioned minute for making
advances both to individual proprietors of estates, and
also to the Board of Works, from national funds, for the
drainage and general improvement of private estates in
Ireland.
My Lords are aware that difficulties have been expe-
rienced in giving practical effect to the Act 9 and 10
Vic., cap. 101, and that in some parts of the country
works of improvement other than drainage may be more
beneficially undertaken.
Their Lordships are, however, of opinion that the ge-
neral course of proceeding prescribed by that Act (ac-
cording to which the improvements on each private
estate are to be executed by the proprietor, and the in-
terference of the officers of the Government is confined
to ascertaining, in the first instance, that the proposed
improvements are likely to be of such a permanent
and productive character as would justify the cost
of them being made a charge upon the estate with
priority over other encumbrances, and afterwards to in-
specting the works from time to time so as to secure the
proper application of the sums advanced to the purposes
for which they were intended) is the mode in which the
intervention of the State can be most extensively and
effectually directed to the improvement of the land of the
country : and her Majesty's Government propose to
submit a Bill to. Parliament founded on these principles,
embracing and extending the objects of the 32d section
of the Act 1 and 2 William IV., cap. 33, amended by
the 9th Victoria, cap. 1, section 6, and of thu 9th and
10th Victoria, cap. 101.
It is proposed by her Majesty's Government that the
million sterling appropriated by the Act 9 and 10 Vic.,
cap. 101, to be issued in loans for drainage in Ireland,
should be rendered available for the purposes of general
improvement of lands, including drainage, under the
provisions of the Act proposed to be passed in the next
session of Parliament, as above explained ; and their
Lordships are prepared to adopt the principle of the 9th
and 10th Victoria, cap. 101, as to the re-payment, and
to authorise its being made by equal half yearly instal-
ments of 31. ss. each, distributed over a period of twenty-
two years, with a power of redemption as provided in the
Act, unless the borrowers should themselves desire that
a shorter period should be fixed, in which case the
number and amount of instalments will be determined in
each particular case as shall be desired by the proprie-
tors, and sanctioned by the Treasury, the rate of interest
being calculated, in all cases, at 3i per cent.
There being reason to believe that considerable diffi-
culty is sometimes experienced by Irish proprietors in
effecting desirable improvements on their estates, owing
to the peculiarities of the tenure of land in Ireland, and
the rights of persons having different interests in it, their
Lordships are of opinion that it may be desirable to in.
sect in the Bill to be submitted to Parliament on this
subject provisions somewhat similar to those contained
in the existing Irish Drainage Acts, for the purpose of
removing this obstacle, and apportioning on the various
parties who will derive benefit from the improvements
a proportionate contribution towards the repayment of
the loan, the whole principal and interest being payable
to the Government by the person who shall be deemed
proprietor of the land drained or improved, and the con-
tribution on the part of the occupier being in the shape
of increased rent to the proprietor.
Her Majesty's Government also propose to submit a
separate Bill to Parliament, in which the provisions of
the sth and 6th Vic., cap. 89, Bth and 9th Vic. cap. 6fl,
and the 9th Vic., cap. 4, which have far their object the
execution by the Board of Works of drainage works of
a more extended description, in most oases involving the
intere t of several propeietora, will be collikolid4tad and
and such atoeudurrits will 114) Made ip 00E9
as the occasion may appear to require,
Thu WIWI tioca AM from Ole

Public Works Loan Fund for this object have been made
at the usual rate of interest of five per cent., but advert-
in.- to the great public importance at the present period
of encoureging every description of agricultural im-
provement in Ireland, their Lordships are prepared to
reduce the interest on future loans to four per cent.
In order that efforts now being made for the drainage
and improvement of land may Lot experience any dis-
couragetnent, their Lordships will authorise the terms
of repayment above described to take effect from the Ist
instant ; that is to say, loans for the drainage, or gene-
ral improvement of estates, to be executed by the pro- '
prietors under the inbpection of the Board of Works, ac.
cording to the provisions of the 32d section of the Act
1 and 2 Will. IV, cap. 33, the 9th Vic., cap. 1, sec. G,
and the 9 and 10 Vic. cap. 101, will be repayable ac-
cording to the terms above stated in respect of advances
to individuals, with interest at 31 per cent., while loans
made to the Board of Works for drainage to be executed
by them under the provisions of the 5 and 6 Vic., cap.
89, 8 and 9 Vie., cap. 69, and the 9 Vic., c. 4, will be
repayable by half-yearly instalments, according to an
award of the Commissioners, with interest at the rate of
4 per cent.

My Lords are further of opinion, that with the view
both of providing security for the repayment of the ad-
vances from the public purse and of relieving entailed es-
tates from the evil of accumulated charges, two powers
should be conferred by the measures which it is proposed
to submit to Parliament.

First, a power to the proprietors of an entailed estate
to sell for the purpose of repaying the advances for im-
provements made by the Board of Works, or if made by
himself, with the aid of Government money, under the
inspection of the Board of Work, any part of the estate
so improved, or of ether estates settled to the same uses,
in the same manner as a power exists in this country, of
selling for the redemption of the land tax.
Secondly, a power to the Government of selling, in
default of payment of two consecutive instalments, so
much of the land improved or of other estates settled
to the same uses, which the proprietor might prefer, as
would repay capital, interest, and expenses of sale.
My Lords desire it to be clearly understood that in
thus laying down the conditions on which they are pre-
pared to make advanoies on any applications made subse-
quently to the Ist instant, they have no intention of in-
terfering with any works or arrangement for works now
in progress under any existing Act, or with sucfi as have
been undertaken, or as may be undertaken, until Par-
lirment shall otherwise provide, under the Poor Employ-
ment Act as extended by Mr. Labouchere's letter of
October 5.