HC Deb 24 June 1862 vol 167 cc1027-8

Order for Committee read.

COLONEL DICKSON

moved that the House should go into Committee on this Bill.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."

MR. SCULLY

said, that he objected to proceeding with the Bill at that late hour of the morning (half-past twelve), especially as no explanation had been given on the first or second reading of the Bill. He begged to move that the debate be adjourned.

COLONEL DICKSON

said, the objects of the Bill had been twice explained, and it had been sent to a Select Committee. He hoped the House would consent to go into the Bill at that comparatively early hour of the morning.

COLONEL FRENCH

said, that he hoped the House would go into Committee on the Bill.

SIR GEORGE GREY

said, that although the hour was late for a Committee on a disputed Bill, he still hoped, that as the Bill had been referred to a Select Committee and fully investigated, the House might now proceed to a decision at once as to whether they should go into Committee or not.

MR. COGAN

said, that ho protested against going into Committee on so important a Bill at half-past twelve o'clock at night, which seriously affected the rights of private property.

Motion made, and Question put, "That the Debate be now adjourned."

The House divided:—Ayes 17; Noes 109: Majority 92.

MR. BAILLIE COCHRANE

said, it was too late to proceed with the Bill at that hour. There were other orders on the paper waiting to be disposed of, and he therefore moved that the House do now adjourn.

MR. SCULLY

said, that he hoped the hon. Member would not persevere with his Amendment, so that the House might be enabled to discuss a measure of that vast importance. No discussion had as yet been taken on this Bill. It was read a second time after a speech of the hon. and gallant Member for Limerick (Colonel Dickson), who had charged him with wantonly obstructing his measure.

MR. BAILLIE COCHRANE

said, he would withdraw his Amendment.

House in Committee.

Clause 1 (Short Title).

MR. SCULLY

said, that he must resume his objections to the Bill, which he characterized as a measure of confiscation. He was, however, willing to discuss the provisions of the Bill, clause by clause.

Clause 1 agreed to; as were also clauses 2 and 3.

Clause 4 (Constitution of Elective Drainage Districts).

MR. SCULLY

said, that he objected to the words "one tenth," and proposed to substitute for them "one third," having reference to the number of proprietors that were empowered to put in operation the provisions of the Bill.

Amendment negatived.

Clause agreed to.

Clauses 5 to 12 inclusive were also agreed to.

House resumed.

Committe report Progress; to sit again To-morrow.