MR. RIDLEYsaid, he wished to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he can inform the House if there is any probability of steps being taken for carrying out the provisions of the Metropolis Act, by which it is determined that the river Thames shall be freed from the sewerage of the Metropolis. He had been informed that day that some of the Officers of the House were so affected in their health by the effluvia of the Thames that it was difficult for them to perform their duties.
§ MR. C. S. BUTLERsaid, he also wished to ask the First Commissioner of Works the following questions:—When the question of the Main Drainage of the Metropolis was referred to the professional gentlemen appointed by him to consider the subject, Whether the referees are likely to make their Report before the close of the present Session? What course the First Commissioner proposes to take after he shall receive such Report, so that no delay may occur in the commencement of the works?
§ SIR BENJAMIN HALLsaid, he was quite aware of the circumstances to which his hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-on-Tyne (Mr. Ridley) had referred. Perhaps he might be permitted to state that by the Metropolis Act of 1855 it was provided that large intercepting sewers should be made for the purpose of diverting the sewage from the Thames. It was also provided under that Act, that those sewers should be constructed by the Metropolitan Board of Works, but that before any works were commenced the plans should be submitted to the First Commissioner of Works for his approval. Now he could assure the House that so far as he was concerned not a single day had been lost in reference to this important matter. The plans were sent to him on the eve of the Christmas holidays, on the 567 22nd of last December, and on the 29th, seven days after, he referred them to the Engineers who had them under their consideration. That was his answer to the first question of his hon. Friend the Member for the Tower Hamlets (Mr. Butler). With regard to the second question, namely, whether the referees were likely to make their Report before the close of the present Session, he was happy to inform his hon. Friend that he had seen one of the referees that day and he believed their Report would be delivered to him on Thursday, or at all events before Saturday next. To the question what course he should take after he had received the Report, his reply was that he should forward a copy of it to the Metropolitan Board of Works; and it might be considered also convenient for him to lay a copy of it on the table of the House. He now came to the question put to him by his hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-on-Tyne (Mr. Ridley). All he could say was, that the matter referred to rested entirely with the Metropolitan Board of Works. He had already shown the House that there had been no delay on his part, and all he could add was, that the moment he received the Report he would forward a copy to the Metropolitan Board, who would, he had no doubt, give it due consideration.