Star.
London, England, 1819-04-08 00:00:00

WATER COMPANIES.

~; ''

Mr. M. A. TAYLOR, previous to the subsequent
motion, moved, that the House should order three
Notices to be posted on the Church doors in the Pa-
rish of St. Mary-la-bonne, of the Bill about to be
b: ought into Parliament for the better regulating the
supply of Water for that Parish•; and that those no-
tices should be regularly served in the manner in-
structed during the months of April and May. This
mode, the Hon. Member hoped, would fully answer
the do sired communication to all the householders of
the nature of the intended Bill. _ _

Mr. M. A.TAYLOR, without farther preliminary,
moved, that leave be given to bring in a Bill for
better supplying with Water the Pansh of Mary-la-
bonne, and certain parts of Middlesex, through the
toedium of the West Middlesex and Grand Junction
C final Companies, and to fix the maximum of their
rates, so as to render their charges more moderate.
Mr. J. SMITH wished to learn from the Honour-
able Member the objects of the Bill.
Mr. M. A. TAYLOR, with much cheerfulness and
promptitude, complied with the Honourable Gentle-
men's reqsest by a brief and general statement of the
natures and object of the intended Bill. In the parish
of Mary-la-bonne, the Water Companies had con.'
ducted themselves with such uncontroulable caprice
and cupidity, as to render a regular supply of water
ecxt to an impossibility, unless the inhabitants con-
sented to pay the advanced and exorbitant charges-
made upon them. The Honourable Member was
anxious, therefore, to remove this system of extortion
and tyranny by some Parliamentary expedient ; and'
the strong sensAtion expressed by the Water Compa-
nies since-his proposition for a new Company, under
the•management and controul of the parish of Mary-
la- bonne, sufficiently evinced the propriety of his plan.
But although the two Water Companies mentioned,
had offered to supply the inhabitants on moderate
terms, yet after the inconvenience and disappoint-
ment experienced, the inhabitants had concurred with
him (Mr. Taylor) irtopinion, that their only safety was
by the provision of a Bill. Other Companies, fear-
ful of the result of a Parliamentary inquiry, had al-
ready lowered their tone as well as. terms. A depu-
tation from the New River Company, the oldest,
and, perhaps, he might also say, the most respecta-
ble, had waited upon him that morning. They ap-,
proved of the measure, and thought that the persons
aggrieved had no other remedy than by the protec-
tion of an Act of Parliament. He ought, in justice
to that great and respectable firm, to notice, that not-
withstanding the frequent advanc -charges by the
other Water Companies, the ,' River Company
had never advanced a single . He had also
to rotice, that the llirectoes a roprietors of the
lf.:er were now waiting withtenxiety the issue of the
present Bill ; and they had it in contemplation to
come forward next year with a new regulating sys-
tem, fot.a better and more permanent understanding
between that Company and those whom they supplied.
'lle chief object of this Bill might be said to com-
similar principles to those now so laudably
A plan of corn etition had been found
It had net, in fdct, been a regular and
cition which had been pursued, but one
running the race of ruin against another.
SMITH thanked the Honourable Gentle-

information. The objectb of the Dill

' were highly laudable, and deserved the support of
the House. Hit was so satitified with the principles
of the Bill, that lie &oil& duty to vote
for it througE all its stages.
The motion was then agreed to. Mr. M. A. TAT-
Loa brought in the Bill. It was read a first time, and
'ordered for .a second reading.
XiIaIUNDIS ZLWXION COXMITTEt.
Mr. ROBINSON, as Chairman of the Committee,
appeared at the Bar, and reported, that he had that
morning come diwit -to dis Charge his duty with the
other Members of the Committee ; but that after
waiting it- -constderable time, they learnt that Mr..
Beckford, one of their number, was absent from_sud-
den illness. They had proceeded to the examination
of the Physician, who was now in attendance, and
from that Gentleman were informed that the particu-
lar day for Mr. Beckford's return was doubtful. In
concurrence with him, it was the opinion of the Com-
mittee, that they ought to apprise the House of the
accident which had deprived them of the assistance of
one of their Members, and obtain leave to proceed in
their investigation. The Report, to the effect now
described, was'brought up and read, after which
The SPEAKER asked, W Dr. PowELt. was in at-
tendance? On being answered in the affiimative,
the Doctor was ordered to the Bar.
Tka SPEAKER-+Have you wended Mr. Beckford as a
medical man ?—Dr. Powst.t.—Yes‘ he is now suffering ustli.r a
cutistderable fever.
The SPEAKER.—Ifow soon do you think that Mr. Beck-
lord. can attend ?—Dr. Porn:J.—Not for several days; but
nven that short-time is uncertain. . . .

The Doctor was then ordered to withdraw.
Mr. ROBINSON then moved, that Mr. Beckford
be excused his future attendance on the Committee.
--Agreed to.
REMOVAL OF THE HAT MARKET.
Mr. GEORGE lAMB, as the result of the Report
from the Committee appointed to examine into the
isseriti-of the •Petition, some-days ago. piesented for
the removal' of the present place of the market corn-
nonly called tbe. Ilay-market," moved for leave to
bring in a Bill operably to the prayer of the Petition.
• Mr. fLOLnk. SUMNER declared himmlf hostile
to the propoied alteration. Ile had heard that it was
in contempla4On to remove the market to the Re-
y-park, .or to ;me extreme •of Mary-la-

.
be ' '' - - Pin -
nne. Thellottourable Member thought that such
a proposition blight not to receive the sanction of the.
I House, as it would be very incbnvenient to the parties
Concerned. Such an eligible situation as St. George's-
fields, or that of Pimlico, would be far more prefer-
able: But he totally disapproved of the Regency-
ark, or any Other place so remote as the extremity of
ary-la-bonne.- - For these reasons he should oppose
it through all its stages.
*Mr. GEORGE LAMB persisted in maintaining,
-that the object of the )3'ill, embraced very laudable
improvements. The Haymarket, as it now stood,
was -not only a public nuisance, but blocked up one
of the greatest thoroughfares in London. Although
its contiguity to the Opera House might be used as
a fashionable argument, yet he did not object to the
market as it now stood on that account. It was the
interruption whichli t prod uc edby being placed so:near
the top of the street commonly called the Haymarket.
The ingres to and egress from Lonclon were thus
disagreeably obstructed. The improvement intended
would not only be highly beneficial to the inhabi-
tants, but greatly contribute to their health, and
prove very ornamental to the city. lie should, there-
fore think it incumbent upon him, as a public duty,
to urge the measure.
Mr. BYNG thought, that the Bill might be delayed
for five or six months at least, in order that the par-
ties interested might be fully apprised of the conse-
quences, especially so far as regarded the particular
place of remoyal. From every view, the Honour-
able Gentleman declared that he would take the sense
of the House on the question.
Mr. MELLISH indicated similar sentiments.

Mr. Alderman WOOD said, that the whole merits
of die question depended upon this fact, whether a
sufficient provision had been made for the parties
that were supposed to be suffe ers by the removal
proposed. If a provision were made according to
principles of fair dealing, the truth of such a state-
ment would induce many Members to vote for the,
Bill, and perhaps satisfy the two Honourable Mem-
bers for the County of Middlesex, who had just sat
down. It had been reported to him in the lobby,
that the market was intended to be removed to the
Regency Park. To this alteration he ohjectod. And
surely some place more contiguous, and more con-
venient might be easily suggested.
The question was then put, when the House di-
vided, and the numbers were—Ayes 87—Noe► 33.
Majority S 4.

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