SECOND READING. (Hansard, 5 March 1883)

§ LORD MOUNT-TEMPLE,
in moving, as an Amendment, that the Bill be read a second time that day six months, said, it was so exceptional a Bill that it ought to be dealt with in an exceptional manner. It would disfigure the most beautiful and frequented part of the lake scenery without any advantage to the public. It would only convey slates that were then carried in 10 light carts without any suffering to the 10 horses. It had been received throughout the neighbourhood with the greatest dismay and apprehen- 1365 sion. The peculiarity of this proposed railway lay in the fact that it ended in a slate quarry in Honister Pass, destroying the picturesque wildness of that celebrated ravine. It would lead to no town, and would accommodate no population. The population of the district was very scanty, consisting mainly of farmers who carried their market produce in small carts. No tourists would use it, because it could carry no one to the fine scenery, but only through it. The number of visitors was estimated at 5,000 annually. He appealed to their Lordships to protect the natural beauty of their favourite holiday ground, which refreshed and delighted the hard-worked artizans of Lancashire and Yorkshire, and repaired the mental exhaustion of professional and literary men from all parts of the country. The interests of the public were not represented before Committees on Private Bills.

§ THE EARL OF REDESDALE (CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES)
said, that, so far as he was able to judge, there might be objection taken to the Bill on the ground that it was a private concern, and therefore ought not to have compulsory powers granted to it. He wished that some noble Lord had risen to take part in the discussion who was in favour of the Bill, so that the House might know what arguments could be adduced on its behalf. Any remarks he himself had to make would come in more appropriately after the arguments in favour of the Bill had been stated.

§ VISCOUNT CRANBROOK
said, that the better way of dealing with the Bill would be to refer it to a Select Committee, so that the House might be put in possession of all the facts. He admired the part of the country through which the line proposed to pass as much as his noble Friend opposite (Lord Mount-Temple); but, at the same time, the promoters might be able to show that the railway would not disfigure the country and would be of some utility. He thought that the better course would be to allow the Bill to pass a second reading, reserving opposition, if it should then be thought desirable, for the third reading.

CONTENTS.
Selborne, E. (L. Chancellor.)	Amherst, L. (V. Holmesdale.)
	Brabourne, L.
Bedford, D.	Brodrick, L. (V. Midleton.)
Lansdowne, M.	Carlingford, L.
Salisbury, M.	Clements, L. (E. Leitrim.)
Belmore, E.	Colchester, L.
Cairns, E.	Colville of Culross, L. [Teller.]
Camperdown, E.	De L'Isle and Dudley, L.
Dartrey, E.
Derby, E.	Ettrick, L. (L. Napier.)
Devon, E.	Kinnaird, L.
Granville, E.	Methuen, L.
Kimberley, E.	Monson, L.
Lathom, E.	Penrhyn, L.
Leven and Melville, E.	Ramsay L. (E. Dalhousie.)
Lytton, E.
Minto, E.	Reay, L.
Morley, E.	Saltersford, L. (E. Courtown.)
Nelson, E.
Northbrook, E.	Sandhurst, L.
Stanhope, E.	Shute, L. (V. Barrington.)
Sydney, E.
	Sudeley, L.
Cranbrook, V. [Teller.]	Thurlow, L.
Halifax, V.	Tweedmouth, L.
Sherbrooke, V.	Windsor, L.

NOT-CONTENTS.
Albany, H.R.M. D.	Mount-Temple, L. [Teller.]
Westminster D. [Teller.]
	Ormonde, L. (M. Ormonde.)
Cowper, E.	Stanley of Alderley, L
Feversham, E.	Strafford, L. (V. Enfield.)
Manvers, E.
	Waveney, L.
Ker, L. (M. Lothian.)