§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE(on behalf of Earl Cowper) in moving the Second Reading of the Bill explained that its object was to relieve the Board of Trade from the statutory liability to maintain the works at Portpatrick Harbour, which was vested in them because that harbour had been a station for packets between Portpatrick and Donaghadee. Now that it was no longer a packet station the Board of Trade wished to be relieved of it.
§ THE DUKE OF RICHMONDsaid, there would be no objection to the Bill if any means of maintaining the harbour when the Board of Trade was relieved of it were provided. Could the noble Marquess state who was to take charge of its maintenance. If there were no authority to undertake that charge, the harbour would go to ruin when the Board of Trade was relieved of it.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEsaid, he could not then answer the question in a positive manner; but many harbours were maintained by local authorities, and he supposed that would be the case in this instance. He would, however, make inquiry on the subject, and at the next stage of the Bill would be prepared to give their Lordships some definite information on the point.
§ Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock to Monday next, Eleven o'clock.