Lords Sitting of 26 July 1898

Preamble
THE LORD CHANCELLORtook his Seat on the Woolsack at a Quarter-past Four of the Clock.
NEW PEER.
The LORD FARNHAM took the Oath.
PRIVATE BILL BUSINESS.
  FISHGUARD AND ROSSLARE RAIL WAYS AND HARBOURS BILL.
  The Queen's consent signified; and Bill reported from the Select Committee with Amendments.
  LANCASHIRE, DERBYSHIRE AND EAST COAST RAILWAY BILL.
  Reported with Amendments.
  LINCOLN AND EAST COAST RAILWAY AND DOCK BILL.
  The Queen's consent signified; and Bill reported with Amendments.
  TENTERDEN RAILWAY BILL. [H.L.]
  The CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES informed the House, That the promoters do not intend to proceed further with the Bill: Ordered that the Bill be not further proceeded with.
  KEIGHLEY CORPORATION BILL.
  Committee to meet on Friday next.
  WEST HAM CORPORATION BILL.
  Committee to meet on Friday next.
  LIVERPOOL CORPORATION BILL.
  Read the third time, with the Amendments, and passed, and returned to the Commons.
  LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL (MONEY) BILL.
  Read the third time, with the Amendments, and passed, and returned to the Commons.
  GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY BILL.
  Returned from the Commons with the Amendment agreed to.
  COVENTRY CORPORATION GAS BILL.
  Returned from the Commons with the Amendments agreed to.
  GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY (GENERAL POWERS) BILL.
  Returned from the Commons with the Amendments agreed to.
  LEYTON URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL BILL.
  Returned from the Commons with the Amendments agreed to.
  LONDON, TILBURY AND SOUTHEND RAILWAY BILL.
  Returned from the Commons with the Amendments agreed to.
  METROPOLITAN RAILWAY BILL.
  Returned from the Commons with the Amendments agreed to.
  MIDDLESBROUGH CORPORATION (GAS) BILL.
  Returned from the Commons with the Amendments agreed to.
  LONDON UNIVERSITY COMMISSION BILL. [H.L.]
  Returned from the Commons agreed to, with Amendments: The said Amendments to be printed. [No. 181.]
  CLONTARF AND HILL OF HOWTH TRAMROAD BILL. [H.L.]
  Returned from the Commons agreed to, with Amendments.
  LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAIL WAY (WALES) BILL. [H.L.]
  Returned from the Commons agreed to, with Amendments.
  TYNEMOUTH CORPORATION WATER BILL. [H.L.]
  Returned from the Commons agreed to, with Amendments.
  DUBLIN PORT AND DOCKS BILL.
  Returned from the Commons with the Amendments agreed to, with Amendments.
  VIGORS' DIVORCE BILL. [H.L.]
  Minutes of evidence and proceedings before this House on the Second Reading, together with the documents deposited in the case, returned from the Commons.
RETURNS, REPORTS, ETC.
  AGRARIAN OUTRAGES (IRELAND).
  Return for the quarter ended 30th June, 1898: Presented (by command), and ordered to lie on the Table.
BILLS ADVANCED.
  CIRCUIT CLERKS OF JUSTICIARY (SCOTLAND) BILL.
  To be read the second time on Thursday next: (The Lord Balfour).
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 13) BILL.
  Amendments reported (according to order), and Bill to be read the third time on Thursday next.
BILL WITHDRAWN.

  PUBLIC LIBRARIES BILL.
  On the Order for the Second Reading of the Public Libraries Bill,
  LORD WINDSOR: I think I ought to give your Lordships one word of explanation as to the course I propose to pursue with regard to this Bill. It was originally intended to introduce it into the other House, and seeing that not only did it deal with the Public Libraries Act of 1892 and 1893, but that more than one clause dealt with the power of local authorities to levy rates, no doubt it would probably have been more in consonance with usual practice and procedure that it should have been introduced into the other House; but when it became apparent that it was impossible for it to pass the House of Commons this year it was thought advisable that it should be intro-

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  duced into your Lordships' House, so that it could be printed and circulated, and that the provisions might be examined. With that intention I put it down for Second Reading; but I understand that the Local Government Board have not been able to give it any serious or full consideration; and therefore, seeing that it is perfectly impossible that it can go any further than your Lordships' House this year, I do not propose to proceed with it any further this Session.
  Order for Second Reading discharged.

PUBLIC BILL BUSINESS.

  PARISH FIRE-ENGINES BILL.
  On the Order for the Second Reading of the Parish Fire-Engines Bill,
  LORD HARRIS: This is a small, but I think a very useful, Measure, which enables parishes to make arrangements with neighbouring local authorities for the use of fire-engines which they themselves are not provided with. Under the Poor Law Amendment Act, 1867, and the Lighting and Watching Act, 1833, parish councils may, where those Acts apply, provide themselves with a fire-engine, but they have not the power under those Acts to make arrangements with the neighbouring local authorities who have got a fire-engine to borrow it—an arrangement which might be useful to some particular parish, and cases have arisen where a local authority, having a fire-engine, has not permitted it to be used in some neighbouring parish where it was wanted urgently and in which there was no fire-engine This Bill removes that difficulty, and I think there can be no doubt whatever that it should be extremely useful that parishes should have this power. Then under the Town Police Clauses Act, 1847, where a fire-engine is sent for the use of a householder or a landowner in a neighbouring parish, the person to whom it is sent may be debited with the cost of the service so rendered. It is thought that it would be hardly fair
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  that that provision should apply in the case of a parish which has made arrangements for the use of a neighbouring fire-engine; and therefore the second clause of the Bill exempts the householder or the landowner from the risk of the cost being laid upon him. I hope your Lordships will give this very useful little Bill a Second Reading.
  Bill read a second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.

  MUSSEL FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL.
  House in Committee (according to order): Bill reported without Amendment: Standing Committee negatived; and Bill to be read the third time on Thursday next.
  BODIES CORPORATE (JOINT TENANCY) BILL. [H.L.]
  Read the third time (according to order), and passed, and sent to the Commons.

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 10) BILL.
  Reported from the Select Committee with Amendments, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.
  House adjourned at 4.35.