§ MR. F. PARKER(for Mr. KENYON) (Denbigh, &c.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the statement, by Mr. Mackie, that the texture of Thames water at Blankwall is that of ink; whether the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works is responsible for this alleged condition of the River; and, if so, to what authority; and, whether the Government contemplate any legislation on the subject at an early period?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have called the attention of the Metropolitan Board of Works to this matter, and the Board informs me it is doing all in its power to improve, by chemical agency, the bad state of the River in this district. The Board of Works is responsible, in so far as the state of the River is due to an imperfect regulation of sewage; but it must be remembered that the long-continued drought of this year has greatly aggravated the difficulties they have had to contend with. I hope that when the new works now in progress are completed the causes of complaint will be lessened, if not removed, and no legislation will be necessary.