§ MR. SERJEANT SHERLOCKasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the strong observations made by the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland on Wednesday last as to the abominable condition of the River Liffey, and to the intimation of that learned Judge that he would retire from the Bench if the nuisance should continue; and, whether Her Majesty's Government propose to take any proceedings to compel the Corporation of Dublin to cleanse the Fiver Liffey?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, his attention had been called to the observations of the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland on the occasion referred to by the hon. and learned Gentleman, and he was afraid the observations were made with only too good reason. It was some years since the Corporation of Dublin obtained from 226 Parliament power to take action with a view to cleansing the River Liffey, and it was also some years since the Government then in power carried a Bill to enable an advance of £300,000 to the Corporation of Dublin to act upon the powers they had obtained. He could not then enter upon the reasons which had caused the delay, but if it was a question of expense, he was authorized to state that the present Government were prepared to give a favourable consideration to any application that might be made by the Corporation for increased borrowing powers. Whatever might be done with regard to a permanent remedy for the state of the Fiver Liffey, he thought some temporary remedy might be applied which would in a great degree abate the existing nuisance. Proposals to tills effect had been made to the Corporation of Dublin by the Lord Lieutenant, and if they did not take such steps as might to some extent remedy the nuisance, Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to deal with them in anyway which might be justified by the existing law.
§ MR. M. BROOKS, in explanation, said, that on Thursday next the Common Council of Dublin would meet for the purpose of asking Parliament for such increased borrowing powers as had been rendered necessary by the increased cost of work and materials, in order to carry out the cleansing of the Liffey.