HC Deb 01 August 1862 vol 168 cc1083-4
SIR JOHN SHELLEY

wished, before the right hon. Gentleman answered the Question, to put to him another which was connected with one which had been put to him a few days ago by the hon. Member for Marylebone, as to the portion of the ground in Kensington Gardens being under water. The right hon. Gentleman, in answering the Question, said— That in one of the central parts of Kensington Gardens, under the trees, there had been during the late wet weather an accumulation of water. That water could easily be got rid of by drains, but he apprehended the drains would do more than remove the water—they might also remove the trees. Many trees had been killed in former times by drains, and he considered it to be one of the duties of his office to take care of old trees. Now, it was somewhat new to be informed that drainage destroyed trees, and he should like, therefore, to know on what authority the right hon. Gentleman had made the statement to which he alluded. The Question he wished to ask was, Whether any Report had been made to the Chief Commissioner that many trees in Kensington Gardens had been killed in former times by drains; and, if so, by whom such Report was made? He also desired to know, in reference to the contractor who was sinking the well at the upper end of the Serpentine, and who was stated to have brought up a considerable supply of water, but was now occupied in boring into the chalk for the purpose of procuring a still larger supply, whether the work was being executed under an estimate; and, if so, what was the total amount of the estimate, what was the depth to which the contractor had undertaken to bore under such estimate, and at what period was he bound by his contract to complete the work? Upwards of two years had elapsed since a Select Committee reported that the condition of the Serpentine absolutely required amendment, and yet little or nothing had been done to improve it. The Serpentine was again beginning to be disagreeable, and, though the tea-garden sort of work at the head of the lake had been completed for some time, he understood that the filtering beds contained nothing but stagnant water. It was to be feared that Mr. Hawksley would find himself deceived in his idea of being able to procure a sufficient supply of fresh water from his well, and the House and the public had a right to know what the Chief Commissioner now proposed to do.