§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE EARL OF HARROWBY, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, explained that the purpose of the measure was to relax the statutes of Mortmain so as to permit the gift or bequest of land or money to be laid out in land for public parks, elementary schools, or public museums, provided that every such deed of gift or bequest shall be made 12 calendar months at least before the death of the granter or testator, and shall be enrolled in the books of the Charity Commissioners within six months after the time when the deed or will shall come into operation. The grant or bequest was limited to 20 acres of land for any public park, two acres for any public museum, and one acre for any school-house.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a,"—(The Earl of Harrowby.)
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaw no objection to the measure, as it did not go beyond the principle already recognized with regard to gifts of land for public purposes.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.