§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. AYRTONsaid, he was desirous of saying a few words in order to remove a misapprehension which seemed to prevail that there was any conflict between this Bill and the Epping Forest Bill which he had himself introduced, and which stood for second reading that evening. The object of this Bill was to enable the Corporation of London to purchase the manorial and private rights in Epping Forest for the purpose of applying them to public purposes; and he did not suppose that his hon. and gallant Friend opposite the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works (Colonel Hogg) would oppose the second reading, but would rather desire that it should be referred to the Select Committee upstairs, where only its details could be properly considered and discussed; and the question could be there raised whether the Corporation might not apply its own property to an object much more useful than the festivities 1254 in which they at present spent it. There was, moreover, a misapprehension regarding the connection of the Chief Commissioner of Works and the Corporation property. Now, he had no responsibility and no duties relating to the government of the metropolis; but he had invested in his hands the administration of a large amount of Crown lands not only in the metropolis, but throughout Great Britain, and extending as far as China and Japan. His own Bill only redeemed a promise given last Session, so as to fully carry out the policy of the House that Epping Forest should be maintained as an open space.
COLONEL HOGGsaid, he could assure the right hon. Gentleman and those who had charge of the Bill, that he should offer no objection to the second reading; but the Metropolitan Board of Works would take care to protect the interest of the ratepayers.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed.