The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-15 00:00:00

MANY BILL.

On the motion that this Bill be read a second time,
Mr. REPTON moved that it be read a second time
that day six mouths.
Mr. B. OSBORNE said he thought great public in-
terests were involved in the supply of water to the me-
tropolis, and in his opinion the House would be doing a
fair thing if they sent this and all other water
Bills relating to the metropolis to a Select Com-
mittee. He could not help expressing his
astonishment that her Majesty's Ministers had
not informed the House what their intentions were with
respect to those water Bills for the metropolis. He
must call on his Right Hon. Friend the Home Secretary
to explain to the House what the intentions of the Go-
vernment were with regard to the supply of water to the
metropolis.
Sir G. GREY said that there was no foundation for
the report which he had only just heard, that the treat-
ment which these water Bills would receive at the hands
of the Government depended on the fate of the Extra-
mural Interment Act. The question of the supply of
water to the metropolis had been referred to
the consideration of the Board of Health,
and he had every reason to suppose that
that board had devoted its greatest consideration
to that question. Previous to Easter the Board commu-
nicated that it had not as yet been able to make a report,
and it suggested that it would be expedient for the
House and, the public at large if those Bills were not al-
lowed to proceed until the report were published. In
accordance with that communication he had moved the
postponement of those Bills until after Easter. The re-
port of the Board was not yet published, and though
he did not think it justifiable to delay the Bill
for the purpose of receiving the report, still, perhaps, the
House would think it desirable to postpone the Bills al-
together until another session.
Lord ASHLEY did not think it desirable that these
Bills should be proceeded with before the report of the
Board of Health was published, which he intimated
would be ready by Whitsuntide.
After a few words from Mr. BAILLIE,
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the second reading ... ... 90
Against it 196

Majority ... -106
The Bill was consequently thrown out.
METROPOLITAN WATERWORKS (HENLEY-
ON-THAMES AND LONDON ACQUEDUCT)
BILL.

Sir W. MOLESWORTH proposed the second read-
ing of this Bill.
Mr. WILLYAMS opposed the Bill, and moved that
it be read a second time that day six months.

Mr. ROBERT PALMER seconded the amendment.

After some observations from Sir DE LACY EVANS,
Lord ASHLEY said that what London wanted was
not quantity of water but quality, and a proper distribu-
tion; and when the report of the Sanitary Commissioners
was laid on the table of the House, some useful suggestions
on that subject would be laid before the public. He be-
lieved that, instead of 2,000,0001. being required for the
supply of London with water, 300,0001. would be amply
sufficient. He should, therefore, support the amendment
that the Bill be read a second time that day six months.
Mt. HUME was surprised at the opposition of the
Noble Lord to the Bill. If there was anything objec-
tionable in the measure, let it go into Committee and be
there rectified.

Mr. MUNTZ could see no reason why the Bill should
not go into Committee, as in that tribunal its provisions
might be properly sifted, and any errors corrected.
Colonel B. KNOX opposed the second reading of the
Bill.

Mr. MOWATT supported the second reading. All
that the people of London wanted to do was to supply
themselves with water out of the Thames, and they
were opposed by some halt-dozen millowners. He
contended that that opposition ought not to
weigh one iota, forthis reason, that that mill property
could be properly compensated fur by a grant of money.
—(Cheers and laughter.) He had nothing whatever to
do with this Bill, except as an inhabitant of London,
and he thought the House was bound to receive those
Bills and send them before a Committee, which was the
proper tribunal for testing them.—(Divide, divide.) He
wished Hon. Gentlemen could only see one of the water
systems in operation in his house.—(lronical laughter.)
Lord R. GROSVENOR opposed the second reading.
He thought the future supply of water to the metropo-
lis should not be left to a trading company.
Mr. B. OSBORNE said there was no subject which
could be discussed in this House, in which the inhabitants
could take a greater interest than in this. No less than
1,800,000 persons assembled to discuss thissubject yester-
day evening.—(Laughter.) He thought his Hon. Colleague
(Lord Robert Grosvenor) had misrepresented the Hen-
ley Company in calling it a trading company. So far
from that, it was vested altogether in the bands of the
ratepayers.—(" No, no.") At all events the ratepayers
were interested in it. Why the inhabitants of London
were being daily poisoned by the most nauseous streams
that could be given to any animal.—(Laughter.) He
(Mr. Osborne) hal with him an account of a microsco-
pical examination of the water supplied by the three
companies south of the Thames, with plates of the ani-
mals which Hon. Gentleman were in the habit of imbib-
ing—( A laugh)—it appeared that the nastiest animal was
drunk by those who were supplied by the Lambeth
Company .—(Laughter.) If Gentlemen would take the
trouble to look through the book they would be per-
fectly astonished to see the animals they were in the
habit of imbibing—at least those of them who drank
water.—(Loud laughter.) Now, the question being
whether the inhabitants of London should not be sup-
plied with is better article, at a cheaper rate, the House
ought surely to send such Bills as this to a Committee
to decide on them upon their merits.—(Hear, bear.) It
was the best course to take, in order to secure immediate
legislation .—(Hear.)
Mr. WYLD represented the opinions of several thou-
sands on the subject, and they were decidedly opposed
to any Government interference in the supply of water.
The principle of centralization had been pushed far
enough they thought, and they considered themselves
quite able to manage their own affairs.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the second. reading ... 116
Against it ... ... 226
Majority _llO
The Bill was consequently thrown out.
MARTIAL LAW IN CEPHALONIA.
Mr. HUME postponed his motion for a Commission
to inquire into the causes of the late riots and procla-
mation of martial law in Cephalonia, and proceeding:
thereupon; and into the grievances of the inhabitants of
the lonian Islands. until the 4 h of June.
MILITARY KNIGHTS OF WINDSOR.
Colonel SALW EY postponed his motion for a Select
Committee to inquire into the case and claims of the
Military Kriglrs of Windsor until the 4th of June.
GROWTH OF COTTON IN INDIA.

Mr. BRIGHT' postponed until the 4th of June his
motion to the effect that an humble address should be
presented to her Majesty, praying her Majesty to ap-
point a Commission to proceed to India to inquire into
the obstacles which prevented an increased growth of
cotton in that country, and to report upon any cir-
cumstances which might injuriously affect the eco-
nomical and industrial condition of the native population,
being cultivators of the soil within the presidencies of
Bombay and Madras.
IRISH POOR-LAW.

Mr. F. FRENCH gave notice that on an early day
after Whitsuntide ho should call the attention of the
House to the working of the Irish Poor-law.
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
Mr. NE WDEGATE presented a petition from a
place in Warwickshire complaining of agricultural dis-
tress, and praying for a return to protection.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.
On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL it was
agreed that the House at its rising should adjourn until
Thursday next.
should
a 3
possible,
it th twelve
have
wee
la:
o'clock
MORNING SITTINGS.
opportunity
lloNnir. FRENVEN thought it was only just that those
Members who had notice of motion for tomorrow
and he should therefore move that the House
onTohfurbsrdinayg.ing them on as early
meet
Sir GEORGE GREY said the orders which stood for
morrow had already be
en postponed for days subse-
qaent to Thursday, and,
gained by their having a therefore, nothing would be
After a few words fr morning sitting on that day.
Mr. FITZ ROY asked Mr. HUMS,
Go
giving Thursdays to Government to extend the reso-
lutionhad motions to submit t o independent Members who
suntide. the House beyond Whit-
Lord J. RUSSELL could not d
sent of the whole House. o so without the con-
The motion was then withdrawn.PROTECTION
TO AGRICULTURE
After the presentation of a large numb.
all praying for protection to agriculture,er of petitions,
Mr. 0. BERKELEY, on rising to move that
House should resolve itself into Committee to take into
the
consideration the Acts relating to the importation of fo-
reign corn, said that he felt it necessary to cast himself
on the kind indulgence of the House. 119 was fully
aware of the difficult position which he occupied, and he
believed that the country needed more information than
it already had with regard to the intentions of her Ma-
jesty's Government towards the country, suffering as it
was under the present extreme agricultural distress. He
would endeavour to show the agricultural interest, and
the tenwet-firmers of this country, the real position in
which they were placed, and what they had to expect
from the great parties of the StaL•; anal in doing
so, he would beg to allude to the answers given to
the addresses lately presented to the Noble Lord at
the head of the Government, and also to another
Noble Lord holding contrary opinions, to the short
and somewhat bitter refusal given by the Noble
Lord at the head of the Government, and to the different
amount of attention paid, and the dignified mode in
which
Lord Stanley received the deputation that waited
01300 him. /
J." n reply to the address presented to Lord
John Russell Lordship said, " You also
say her . on Saturday, his Lordship i
e, that the only hope replacing the agricul-
tural of
and other nati •
ve anct colonial interests in a gate of