§ Order for Third Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time."
COLONEL SYKESsaid, he must enter his annual protest against the extravagant expenditure of the taxes of the country under this Bill. If the hon. Member for Cashel (Mr. O'Beirne) did not repeat his Motion next Session, for a Committee to re-consider this question, he should do so.
§ LORD ELCHOobserved that what he had proposed was not to oppose the fortifications, but that an actual experiment should be made to test their strength and sufficiency, and till that was done they should not be proceeded with. He had withdrawn his Amendment to that effect, on the Secretary of State for War undertaking that the experiment should be made.
SIR JOHN HAYobserved, that in the interval the works would not be stopped; but it might, he thought, be assumed that if the experiment was against the efficiency of the fortifications they would not be proceeded with.
§ LORD ELCHOsaid, he wished it put on record to this effect—that a complete section be made, full size, of Devonport Breakwater, giving one embrasure, granite base, concrete roof, with two supporting pillars, girders, brickwork, granite, &c., as per drawing, signed by Colonel Jervois, January 19, 1867, and issued to contractors—that this section should be submitted to the following tests:—Six shots of Palliser's projectiles from the 9-inch rifled gun; six shots of Palliser's projectiles from the 600-pounder rifled gun; both guns to be placed at 600 yards. He thought no other test would be satisfactory, and he hoped the Secretary of State for War would see that it was carried out.