§ Order for Third Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill he now read the Third Time."
§ MR. COBDENpresented several petitions against the passing of the Bill. The petition from the inhabitants of Holmfirth, he said, referred to the bursting of the Bilbery reservoir on the 5th of February, 1852, by which eighty-three lives were lost, and property to the amount of 120,000l sacrificed; and it expressed the fears of the petitioners lest the reservoir when reconstructed should again burst, and involve the inhabitants of the district in a similar calamity. He should, therefore, move that the Bill be read a third time that day six months. When the awful calamity to which reference was made in the petition occurred, there was a large amount of sympathy felt throughout the country, and subscriptions were made to a much larger amount than the relief committee felt called upon legitimately to distribute, and in consequence they set aside 6,000l. towards the reconstruction of the reservoir, thinking that was the best way of benefiting the neighbourhood. The relief committee were not generally inhabitants of Holmfirth, and consequently were not aware of the best mode of benefiting the district. Now, it was natural that after such a calamity 601 there should be a great dread of having such a reservoir reconstructed. The reservoir would overhang the valley, and any neglect, any want of engineering skill, any want of capital to make repairs, would overwhelm the valley with the same fatal results as before. He apprehended if the reservoir were of paramount necessity to the interests of the valley, the community would get over their fear, and would most likely say they would trust to a better construction of the dam, seeing that they could not obtain employment without it. But he maintained that this reservoir was not requisite in order to give employment to the district. Almost every manufacturer in the district had a steam engine as well as a water wheel; and all who were acquainted with manufactories knew that when a manufacturer was obliged to keep up a steam engine as well as a water wheel, the water wheel, even if he got the water for nothing, was of very little value. But in this case they were rated for the water whether they used it or not. Therefore he maintained that this reservoir was not necessary for the employment of the people in that district. [The hon. Gentleman then read a letter from the largest manufacturer in the district bearing out these statements.] Sympathising with the feelings of the inhabitants of Holmfirth, he maintained that if they could make the reservoir so safe that Mr. Stephenson, or Mr. Locke, or any other eminent engineer, should, on seeing it, pronounce it perfect, yet it was totally impossible that parties who had lost their relatives and their property by its bursting before, should be free from anxiety and fear. He knew it was said by the Chairman of the Committee, that the Bill ought to have been opposed in Committee. It was opposed by private individuals, but the public did not appear there, and were not aroused till the Bill had passed through the ordeal of the Committee. But if it were merely an ordinary reservoir, the Committee had not even taken the ordinary precautions. There was a provision that it should be inspected every year by the Commissioners; but he had seen other reservoirs where they had had no such warning as at Holmfirth, with respect to which it was required that a Report should be presented yearly to the President of the Society of Civil Engineers, or some person appointed by him. This Bill had not been promoted by the public, but by the mortgagees. It was owing to the neglect of the mortgagees, or rather the embarrassment into which the concern had 602 fallen, that the calamity happened; and he believed that now, though they had got 6,000l. from the relief fund, they would not have sufficient funds to go on with— that the reservoir would not be constructed efficiently, and would not in future be well maintained. He trusted, therefore, that the House would reject the Bill.
§ Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "now," and at the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day six months."
MR. BECKETT DENISONsaid, he was the Chairman of the Committee, and they had no counsel before them to oppose the Bill; but there were two very intelligent men, constituents of his hon. Colleague and himself, who occupied a good deal of their time, who would have withdrawn their opposition if they could have got a clause inserted to exempt them from being rated. Due notice was given to the millowners in the valley of Holmfirth, who would be rated in support of the reservoir, and he thought the promoters made out an exceedingly strong case for the Bill. It was true a certain number of millowners might by possibility, if there was another break down, be affected by damage, as they were before, but there was no good reason for supposing that would be the case. It was a melancholy thing to have to state that an expenditure of 5l. would have kept the dam in repair, have saved the lives of eighty-three persons, and the destruction of 120,000l. worth of property. The Committee were unanimous in favour of the Bill.
§ VISCOUNT GODERICHsaid, he had received a number of communications, all in favour of the Bill; but a gentleman who opposed the Bill stated to him that in consequence of the rating it would be a loss to him personally.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREsaid, this was a question of considerable difficulty to the House. In matters of private interest he would pay deference to a Committee; but he thought in this case they ought to have an assurance from the Chairman of the Committee that they had considered the public safety.
MR. BECKETT DENISONsaid, the Bill contained a clause directing the proceeds of the rates to he raised under it to be applied—first, to the expenses of management; and, secondly, to the repair of the reservoir; and as the Commissioners would have the power to raise rates to the amount of 1,200l. per annum, he thought there could be no doubt that the reser- 603 voir would be kept in proper repair in future.
§ SIR ROBERT H. INGLISsaid, he thought the House ought to be satisfied that the Committee had come to a right conclusion in this matter. The Committee were unanimously of opinion that the reservoir might be restored with perfect safety to the public.
§ MR. MUNTZsaid, he thought it was quite capable to construct a reservoir with perfect safety to the public. It was only to a want of ordinary care that the late fatal accident at Holmfirth ought to be attributed.
MR. HUMEsaid, he thought this was a question which deserved the attention of Her Majesty's Ministers. Some individual ought to be appointed by them to travel through the country, from time to time, to inspect the condition of reservoirs and canals.
§ MR. FLOYERsaid, he fully concurred in the hon. Member's (Mr. Hume's) views. It was the opinion of the Committee that a more effectual supervision of reservoirs should be introduced.
§ MR. BROTHERTONsaid, that the opponents of the Bill supported the Amendment on the ground of humanity; but the engineer who had been examined stated that the reservoir would be perfectly safe.
§ MR. COBDENsaid, that if the Bill were recommitted, more stringent precautions might be taken, which would satisfy the public mind on this subject.
§ Question put, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."
§ The House divided: —Ayes 129; Noes 21: Majority 108.
§ Main Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read 3o, and passed.