§ MR. LABOUCHEREmoved for leave to bring in a Bill to alter and amend certain provisions of the Land Clauses Consolidation Act of 1845 in Ireland. He said, that there were great and peculiar difficulties in Ireland, not existing in England and Wales, with regard to the valuation of land for compensation taken by railway companies. These chiefly arose from the complicated tenure existing in Ireland, and consequently railway companies were put to great and unnecessary expense, and the extension of the railway system in Ireland, which he held to be of the greatest consequence for the development of the resources of that country, was thereby materially impeded. Hence there had been an attempt made to substitute arbitration for jury system; special clauses had been introduced with that view into some Irish Railway Bills last year, and there were similar clauses in Bills of this year. But it had been thought that if this was to be done at all, it should be by some general Bill for Ireland; and, quite agreeing with that view, and finding the Irish Members 328 almost unanimous upon the matter, and having received a deputation of Irish solicitors urging him to deal with the subject, he had prepared a Bill which he now begged the House to allow him to bring in.
§ COLONEL DUNNEwas in favour of allowing arbitration where the proprietors of the district wished for it, but could not think it was advisable that there should be a general Act empowering a company to take land at a price fixed by an arbitrator appointed by the Government.
§ Leave given.
§ Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Labouchere, Sir William Somerville, and Mr. Attorney General for Ireland.
§ The House adjourned at a quarter before One o'clock, till Monday next.