§ MR. T. DUNCOMBEwished to know what were the intentions of the Government as to legislating upon this subject during the present Session?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, he had to state, in answer to the question of the hon. Gentleman, that seeing the lateness of the Session, and looking to the protracted inquiry now being carried on before the Committee to which the Bill of the Government had been referred, it was not the intention of the Government to proceed to legislate on the subject of the water supply for the metropolis during the present Session. At the same time he felt it his duty to state that it was very desirable that the Committee should proceed with their investigations, so that at the close of the Session they should report their opinion to the House with respect to the general question of water supply for London. He considered it likewise desirable that they should report the evidence collected by them; and if they were able to report their opinion and the evidence before the close of the Session, he thought the House would he in a position to proceed with the measures regarding the water supply next Session with far better information, and with better means of coming to a useful and beneficial decision, than they were at present.