MR. HOWARDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he will state to the House the reasons why a request, made on 21st of April last, in conformity with Clause 6 of the Act of 24 & 25 Vic. c. 70, for an Inspector to be sent to report upon the capabilities of certain bridges in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to carry locomotive engines, remained unnoticed for seven weeks; and, on what grounds, or under the provisions of what Act, the person making the request was required by the Under Secretary to give an undertaking to the Home Department to pay all expenses incurred by such Inspector?
MR. BRUCEAlthough, Sir, the Act has been in operation since 1861, this is the first case which has arisen under the section referred to. The delay has arisen from the necessity of ascertaining the facts from the surveyor of the bridges in the first instance, and then of communicating with the Board of Trade as to the appointment of a person to make the inspection. So much time, however, would not have been spent if the applicant had correctly stated the names and addresses of the surveyors against whose notices 1229 he appealed. As to the second part of the Question the Act provides, with the view of securing an impartial arbitrator, that the question shall be determined by an officer to be appointed, on the application of either party, by the Secretary of State; but it makes no provision as to the payment of the officer's expenses. The matter is one of purely local concern, and the costs ought to be paid by the parties interested.