§ Bill considered in Committee:—
§ (In the Committee.)
§ Clauses 15 to 63 inclusive agreed to.
§ Clauses 64 and 65 negatived.
§ Clause 66, as amended, agreed to.
§ Clause 67 (Power to Drainage Boards, in case Mill Power be improved, with Owner's Consent, to rate the Mill Owner towards the Expenses of the Works).
§ SIR HERVEY BRUCE moved to expunge the clause giving power to drainage boards in cases where mill power, with the owner's consent, shall be improved, to rate the millowner towards the expenses of the works.
499§ Question put, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."
§ The Committee divided:—Ayes 27; Noes 15: Majority 12.
§ Clause agreed to.
§ Remaining clauses agreed to.
§ Preamble.
§ MR. BUTT moved, that the Chairman report progress, on the ground that certain new clauses and Amendments could be better considered in Committee than on the report.
§ MR. SCULLYsupported the Motion. He had been assured that the Lunatics Law Amendment Bill would occupy the Committee up to a quarter to four o'clock, instead of which the House had run through both that Bill and the Weights and Measures Bill. He had been obliged to be absent on private business for two or three hours; but he came down as soon as he could, and he found that the Drainage (Ireland) Bill had been got through as far as the Preamble. He had heard the other day a conversation between his hon. and gallant Friends (Colonel Dickson and Colonel French), in which the latter observed that he would undertake to pass the Drainage (Ireland) Bill in five minutes if he (Mr. Scully) would undertake to be absent. He had found it impossible to be present that morning, and his hon. and gallant Friend had been as good as his word. Certainly, Irish business was transacted after an extraordinary fashion. Irish Members never knew when an Irish Bill was coming on. They were expected to be in the House morning, noon, and night. They ought, indeed, to live and sleep in the House, where, however, no beds were provided for them. The hon. and gallant Member who was the author of this Bill (Colonel Dickson) had not been present at all that day. The Drainage (Ireland) Bill was the worst Irish measure of the Session. The subject was one of the very few that he thoroughly understood. [A laugh.] Yes! he did thoroughly understand now what he was speaking about. He was doing everything in his power to carry out drainage in Ireland, but the principle he had always adopted was to begin at the lowest level, and drain upwards. The hon. Member was proceeding, when—
§ It being Four of the clock,
§ House resumed.
§ Committee report Progress; to sit again on Monday next.