§ * THE EARL OF RANFURLY,in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, explained that its object was the amalgamation of the two existing schemes so that the navigations may be carried on by one company. The second scheme, consisting of 5½ miles of navigation, belonged to the Boyne Navigation Company, which was almost, if not absolutely, bankrupt, and was unable to take over the working of the whole of this river. The second portion consisted of 12½ miles of navigation. The Board of Works had managed to arrange with the Drogheda Steamship Company, and many of the leading tradesmen of Drogheda, to form a company which should take over these two navigations in consideration of the sum of about £3,000. The Bill contained very few clauses, which were more or less of the same kind as those in other Bills of this nature.
THE EARL OF MAYOsaid he did not see the necessity of Clause 7. He should like in Committee to move an Amendment to define more clearly the channel in which a barge was to go, as works might be carried out which would do away with the salmon spawning beds which were in the river.
§ * THE EARL OF RANFURLYsaid it was only proposed to keep the navigation at the same depth that it had been kept at for a number of years, and he could not see how it affected the spawning grounds.
§ Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.
§ House adjourned at Six o'clock, to Thursday next, a Quarter past Ten o'clock.