HC Deb 03 June 1861 vol 163 cc465-7

Order for Third Reading read.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time."

SIR EDWARD GROGAN

said, the people of Dublin doubted whether, even supposing the money which it was proposed by the Bill to lay out were spent, they would be able to get the water. Nor had the details of the Bill been sufficiently considered, and, under all the circumstances attending the progress of the Bill through the Committee, he would move that it should be read a third time that day six months.

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. BROWN-WESTHEAD

said, that as a Member of the Committee he was surprised that the hon. Gentleman should pursue this course after every facility had been given for opposing the Bill in Committee. He contended that there was no good ground for undoing the work of the Committee, which had given their best consideration to the whole matter. Fifty-four out of sixty members of the corporation supported the Bill; a Royal Commissioner and an eminent engineer had reported that the proposed supply would be ample and of the best quality. He, therefore, trusted the House would support the decision of the Committee.

CAPTAIN JERVIS

said, the Bill was opposed to the opinions of the great majority of the ratepayers of Dublin, who were most anxious that it should go before a fresh Committee.

MR. DAWSON

concluded that the Bill would operate as a measure of confiscation, to the extent of depreciating a large mass of house property at least 25 per cent.

MR. MASSEY

said, that the Bill had already been amply discussed on a previous stage; it had also been before the Select Committee upwards of three weeks, and he trusted the House would negative the Amendment.

MR. BLAKE

said, he was surprised at the opposition which had been raised by the hon. Member for Dublin. He had watched the progress of the measure through Committee, and he was satisfied that every reasonable concession had been made to its opponents, and that the Bill ought to pass into law.

SIR JOHN SHELLEY

said, that after the long and patient investigation of the Bill by the Committee, he was astonished at the opposition offered to it by the hon. Members for Dublin.

MR. GEORGE

said, he was quite aware of the inutility of opposing the Bill, but he protested against the retention in it of such dangerous and mischievous clauses. A very large proportion of the most respectable inhabitants of Dublin were heart and soul opposed to the measure; and although it might receive the sanction of that House he trusted it would be ignominiously defeated in "another place."

MR. O'BRIEN

said, he should support the decision of the Committee.

MR. MAGUIRE

strongly urged the House to pass the Bill, as the water supply of Dublin was at present in a most scandalous state.

MR. LONGFIELD

said, he should oppose the Bill in the interest of the taxpayers of Dublin.

MR. M'CANN

remarked that it was the duty of the House to see that the poorer classes in every large town had a supply of good water, and he should, therefore, support the Bill. He had often occasion to be in Dublin, and he was, therefore, able to say that the water was at some seasons of the year utterly unfit for human consumption. He had never been able to drink a pint of it, not even when mixed with spirits.

MR. VANCE

said, the Committee had refused to hear the ratepayers of Dublin against the Bill, which they considered as one of confiscation. The Bill would imgreat additional burdens upon the ratepayers, and as an instance of this, he stated that under its provisions his water rate would be increased from 30s. to £10 a year. So far as the character of the water at present supplied in Dublin was concerned, it was very good, and he pledged his honour to the fact that neither himself nor any member of his family, nor any visitors, ever drank anything but the pipe-water now supplied in Dublin.

MR. COGAN

said, he was sorry to hear that the hon. Gentleman gave his friends such very bad entertainment. The hon. Gentleman did not represent the property of Dublin. The majority of those who paid taxes voted against him, and the hon. Member was only returned by the votes of the freemen who paid no taxes.

Question put, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."

The House divided:—Ayes 169; Noes 93: Majority 76.

Main Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read 3°, and passed.