§ MR. BENTINCKasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that Landguard Fort has been rebuilt without any provision having been made for supplying the garrison with fresh water; whether it is true that the proper garrison of the Fort has not been and cannot be quartered there; and, if he would state how the artillerymen now in charge of the guns are provided daily with fresh water, and at what cost?
MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, said, it was true that the Fort had been rebuilt without any provision being made for supplying the garrison with fresh water. This was owing to the fact that for the 250 years that the Fort had been in existence, it had been supplied from what were called the garrison springs, in a piece of Grown land about a rood in extent, and some little distance from the Fort. This land had been claimed by the lord of the manor, who had not succeeded in obtaining it, and who had therefore cut off the springs. That was the reason the Fort was without a water supply, and the springs being subterranean there was no redress to be obtained in the Courts of Law. The full garrison of the Fort was not now quartered there; but that could be done at any time it might be deemed necessary. The Artillery who were there at present in charge of the guns were supplied with fresh water by means of water carts.