§ MR. DONALD CRAWFORD (Lanarkshire, N.E.)asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the fact that an application under the Public Health Act, by Thomas Gibb and others, for the formation of a water supply district at Cleland, has been pending for about six years; whether a petition for the rectification of the proposed boundaries was presented to the Sheriff in May, 1887, and the Sheriff remitted to an architect to report on this question on 3rd October, 1887; whether the report was not lodged till 13th December, 1888; whether, on 12th January, 1889, he made au order permitting written objections to be lodged to the report within eight days, but no objections have been lodged; whether the Sheriff has given no decision; and whether, if these facts be correct, he will inquire who is to blame for such extreme delay in a matter affecting public health, and consider whether the law requires amendment?
§ *MR. J. P. B. ROBERTSONThe facts as stated by the hon. Member are substantially correct. Some necessary delay was occasioned in the initial stages of the inquiry by a difficulty regarding the boundaries. I am informed that the Sheriff Substitute of the district has been suffering from illness lately which may account for the delay in his pronouncing any decision, but I hope the matter will now be decided as soon as possible. As at present informed, I do not see any necessity for amending the existing law.