HC Deb 04 August 1835 vol 30 cc45-6

The Motion was, to agree to the Lords' Amendments to the Chelsea Water Works' Bill. Several were agreed to.

On the Clause, that the Company should incur a penalty of 10l. if their drains ever failed in being charged,

Sir Samuel Whalley

complained, that the Lords had so altered the Clause which previously compelled the Company to procure their water from above Teddington, as to leave it open to them to get it from much lower clown the river. The public were much dissatisfied with this alteration, and he must strongly object to it.

Mr. Clay

said, that the Select Committee of the House of Lords had been occupied in hearing evidence on this subject from the 3rd of June to the 30th of July, and the result of the investigation was, that the Company should not take their water from below a point 350 yards above Kew-bridge. It was demonstrated by the evidence before that Committee, that that point was beyond the tide. The supply, therefore, derived from such a quarter would be free from suspicion. An enormous expense—indeed a difference to the amount of 300,000l. would be incurred by going above Richmond, without any commensurate advantage.

Sir Francis Burdett

maintained, that it would be impossible to obtain pure water below Teddington. The public would be satisfied with no water taken from below Richmond-bridge. Surely, his hon. Friend would not deny that the tide ran up to Richmond. He would rather the Bill should be deferred to another Session, than be carried with this Clause so altered, as it would be tricking the public out of the point from which the Company originally proposed to take their water.

Mr. Clay

was sure that the water would be taken from the point originally contemplated—nearly opposite Sion House. No London sewer, however large, would have its contents carried up so far by the tide.

Mr. Warburton

believed the water in the Thames at London was better calculated for ninety-nine purposes out of a hundred for which it was wanted, than the water at Richmond. He alluded to washing and various other purposes to which water was applied, amongst which the drinking water, his hon. Friend would remember, bore a very small proportion.

Sir Francis Burdett

must still remain of opinion, that whatever water the people did drink, however small the consumption, should be good, and they should be supplied with an ample sufficiency of it. He thought every working man should be able to get plenty of water without having to pay for it.

The Clause was agreed to.

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