§ MR. HARVEY LEWISsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether it is his intention to proceed with the Metropolis Gas Bill before the Easter Recess?
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, in reply, said, the second reading of the Bill had been fixed for to-morrow, but it would be impossible to take it then. He had 1108 that day met a deputation at the Board of Trade, and had proposed to them that if it would satisfy the Gas Companies he was prepared to withdraw the first Bill and bring in another, leaving blanks for filling in the price and standard quality of the gas. He told the deputation that he would postpone the second reading of the present Bill till next Thursday, and if they should agree to his proposal he should then move that the Order for the present Bill be discharged, and should ask Leave to bring in another, to be read a second time after Easter.