HC Deb 12 March 1849 vol 103 cc538-40

MR. DIVETT moved the Second Reading of the Lough Corrib Improvement Company Incorporation and Amendment of certain Public Acts Bill.

Motion made, and Question put, "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

MR. O'FLAHERTY

opposed the Motion, upon the ground that the improvements were now, and had been for some time past, in the hands of the Board of Works in Ireland, who had expended a considerable sum of money upon the undertaking. The millowners in the immediate neighbourhood had sent several petitions to the House, in which they repudiated the company, stating they had never placed any confidence in it, and praying the House to empower the Board of Works to complete the improvements. In fact, the company had not executed any part of the plans, with the exception of an embankment, which had twice given way; but they had incurred a large outlay in legal proceedings, which, it was very much to be apprehended, would not bear any very rigid scrutiny.

MR. DIVETT

explained that his sole object in moving the second reading was to send the whole subject before a Committee of the House, to inquire and report. He had great confidence in the decision of a Committee, but he confessed that he had not any either in the Board of Works, or the hon. Member for Galway, who, according to information received, had agreed to take shares in the company, and afterwards declined to pay up. The company had expended 15,000l. in the execution of the works, and they were to lay out 24,000l. in addition. Justice, therefore, would not be done to them, unless they were permitted to go before a Committee, and state the whole of their case.

MR. O'FLAHERTY

said, he had been induced to become an original shareholder by reason of his having seen the names of several respectable gentlemen at the head of the list of directors; but these gentlemen had afterwards repudiated the introduction of their names. [Cries of "Who are they?"] The late Mr. Lynch, the master in Chancery was one; and Mr. Joyce, who put them into the Court of Chancery, and dismissed their own bill, was another. This was the history of his (Mr. Flaherty's) shareholdership.

MR. J. PARKER

thought that, as the Board of Works had been making considerable progress with the improvements, the second reading of the Bill ought to be postponed.

MR. B. DENISON

thought the application of the promoters of the Bill perfectly reasonable, particularly after they had already spent 15,000l., and were ready to go on with the works.

MR. AGLIONBY

supported the Bill. He had gone through the papers which had been placed in his hands, and had endeavoured to make himself master, as far as any gentleman could, of an Irishman's actions, and, having done so, he had come to the conclusion that there never had been a case of more overhearing mismanagement on the part of the opponents of the company—on the part of the Government officers, the Board of Works. He said that at least 16,000l. had been subscribed in England to carry out the undertaking in question, and that not a single farthing of the sum necessary had been obtained from Ireland. The Marquess of Clanricarde was most anxious, so far as his property was concerned, that the work should be executed by the company; and he agreed with the hon. Mover, that great injustice would be done the several parties if inquiry were refused.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

observed that his hon. Friend the Member for Exeter had not gone to the bottom of the case. The question was, whether the Bill should be permitted to pass, in order to further progress being made by the Board of Works. The company had been formed in 1838, and for seven or eight years they had not done anything, with the exception of erecting a breakwater, which was very speedily washed away. The Board of Works then commenced the improvements, and went deliberately on with them for two or three years, when, all of a sudden, the company, which he might designate a sort of resurrection company, came forward and wanted to do the very work which the Board had already executed. He admitted that the English shareholders had some reason to complain, and that they were damaged by having got into a bad concern; but whatever had been the result, it was a monstrous thing now to attempt to stop the improvements altogether.

The House divided:—Ayes 36; Noes 55: Majority 19.

Bill to be road 2°on this day six months.

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