MR. HARVEY LEWISsaid, he wished to ask the First Commissioner of Works, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a Copy of a Letter, dated 8th July instant, addressed to him, upon the offensive state of the ornamental water in the Regent's Park, by Dr. Whitmore, the Medical Officer of Health for the parish of St. Marylebone?
§ MR. AYRTONSir, my attention has been drawn by reports which have reached me to this subject, and I shall be happy to lay them on the Table of the House. It is beyond doubt that the state of the ornamental water in Regent's Park at the present time is very unsatisfactory, and it is believed that that result is owing to the fact that the water has been made shallow and the bottom of a uniform depth. At present the only mode of relief, having regard to the manner in which the work was carried out, is by increasing the depth of the water, and I have given directions that the depth should be increased accordingly. As to the permanent remedy for the evil, it will be necessary carefully to consider the mode in which the works were carried out two or three years ago, in order to ascertain what alterations will be required in order to secure the continuous purity of the water, and to prevent its getting again into its present condition.