§ MR. BENTINCKsaid, that a great deal of anxiety having been felt with respect to the inundations that had recently occurred in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, and many misapprehensions having arisen from erroneous statements, he wished to ask the hon. Member for Huntingdonshire (Mr. Fellowes), as Chairman of the Middle Level Commission. If he had any objection to state what was the present extent of the inundation of the Fen country, and what hope he entertained of putting a stop to it?
§ MR. FELLOWESsaid, he was glad of the opportunity of making an explanation in regard to this disaster, the melancholy consequences of which they must all deplore. Previous to the accident on Sunday the 4th May, the Commissioners had received no intimation whatever of there being the slightest danger likely to arise to the great sea sluice; but on the following morning he, as Chairman of the Commission, received from their clerk, who was then in London, a communication that on the previous night the sluice had been destroyed by the tides. Immediately on learning what had happened, he went to Mr. Walker, the engineer who constructed the works fifteen years ago; and after consulting with him and Mr. Burgess, his partner, they called in Mr. Hawkshaw to give advice on the subject. That gentleman recommended the construction of an earth dam, and the resident engineer was directed to carry out the work with all 2028 possible haste. The matter was then put into the hands of Mr. Hawkshaw, Mr. Walker's state of health rendering him unable to undertake it and instructions were given to him to use his utmost exertions to repair the evil, wholly regardless of expense. Mr. Hawkshaw was compelled to remain in town a few days to attend to some Parliamentary business, and to procure the materials necessary for further works; but at the end of the week he proceeded, with himself and some of the other Commissioners, to the scene of the disaster. They found the works proceeding with the greatest activity; several hundred men were employed with carts and horses in building an earth dam; but, unfortunately, the work could not be completed before the spring tides came. These tides rose to an extraordinary height, and on the Monday following a breach was made in one of the banks of the great cut of the Middle Level, which was intended to receive only the upland waters, and was not, therefore, constructed of sufficient strength to resist tidal waters. The consequence was that 6,000 acres of land were under water to an average depth of between two and three feet. Shortly after the inundation the Mayor of Lynn and other persons wrote to the Home Secretary complaining of the inactivity of the Middle Level Commission, and requesting the interference of the Government. Those letters were forwarded to the Middle Level Commissioners. They called upon Mr. Hawkshaw to make a report, and with the permission of the House he would read that report. It was dated, Great George Street, 20th May, 1862.
§ MR. SPEAKERI do not know what may be the wish of the House as to the extent to which this conversation should proceed; but it is my duty to inform the hon. Member and the House that questions are confined by the directions of the House to Ministers of the Crown relating to public affairs, and to other Members relating to any Bill, Motion, or any public matter connected with the business of the House in which such Members may be concerned. This may be a matter of public importance, but it does not fall within the limits laid down by the Order.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYThe noble Lord the Member for King's Lynn (Lord Stanley) has given notice that he will put a question to me upon this subject tomorrow. I told him that there would be no objection to produce the very report 2029 which the hon. Gentleman was about to read. It was transmitted to me by the Middle Level Commissioners, and, perhaps, its production in answer to a Motion will be the more satisfactory mode of bringing it under the notice of the House.
§ MR. FELLOWESsaid, he was in the hands of the House. This was a matter of public importance; and if the House had no objection, he would proceed with the reading of Mr. Hawkshaw's report. ["Read ! read !"]
33, Great George Street, Westminster,May 20.Gentlemen,—I have read Mr. Waddington's letter of the 19th inst., and also the two letters accompanying it —one from the Mayor of Lynn and the other from the Vicar of Enneth. In reply I beg to report that no effort has been spared since the failure of the sluice to construct sufficient barriers against the sea to prevent it flowing up the new cut into the interior of the country. Between the 4th inst., when the sluice gave way, and the next high tides, there was an interval of only seven days, much too short a space of time to permit of any effectual stoppage of the tidal waters. The construction of an earthwork dam was commenced immediately, and continued incessantly, for the purpose of shutting out as much as possible of the tidal waters, and the dam was raised in that time about ten feet high. It was wholly impossible in those few days, a portion of which had to be devoted to collecting a proper staff and suitable materials, to do more than this. The earth dam is not abandoned, as one of the writers seems to imagine, but is now being pushed forward as fast as possible, having regard to its security. Fearing to depend on this alone, I am also constructing a coffer dam above the earth dam, so as to afford additional safety. I can only add that everything that human agency can do in the matter is being done. It is difficult to explain to gentlemen unacquainted with such subjects the steps and stages necessary to bring a work presenting unusual difficulties to a successful conclusion. The suggestions made by all sorts of people from day to day how instantly to stop a tidal river of great magnitude, while they show a laudable anxiety to avert further mischief, display how little such persons understand the difficulties of the task they would undertake. I have, however, every reason to hope that the measures I am now taking will be successful. It is true, as mentioned by the Mayor of Lynn, that on Sunday last, the 18th inst., the men were not at work. The payment of their wages was not concluded until near midnight on Saturday, and men and superintendents were all so worn out that it was thought desirable by the agents of Mr. Leather, the contractor, to allow them to rest on the Sunday.I am, Gentlemen,Your obedient servant,JOHN HAWKSHAW.The Commissioners of the MiddleLevel Drainage.He had to state in conclusion that Mr. Hawkshaw had authority to carry on the necessary works as speedily as possible 2030 before the next spring tides, in order to prevent any further destruction of property.