Lords Sitting of 5 June 1913

LORD SYDENHAM OF COMBE.
Sir GEORGE SYDENHAM CLARKE, G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E., having been created Baron Sydenham of Combe, of Dulverton in the County of Devon—Was (in the usual manner) introduced.

REPRESENTATIVE PEER FOR IRELAND.
Writs and Returns electing the Earl of Lanesborough a Representative Peer for Ireland in the room of the Earl of Belmore, deceased, with the Certificate of the Clerk of the Crown in Ireland annexed thereto: Delivered (on Oath), and Certificate read.
The LORD CHANCELLOR acquainted the House, That the Clerk of the Parliaments had laid upon the Table the Certificates from the Examiners that the further Standing Orders applicable to the following Bills have been complied with:

Great Western Railway.

Rhondda Tramways (Railless Traction).

Derby Corporation.

The same were ordered to lie on the Table.

STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE.
Report from, That the Standing Orders not complied with in respect of the Petition for a Bill relating to

Kent Electric Power

ought to be dispensed with, and leave given to introduce the Bill.
And that the Standing Orders not complied with in respect of the Petition for additional Provision in the

Northern Junction Railway Bill

ought not to be dispensed with:
Read, and agreed to.

KENT ELECTRIC POWER BILL. [H.L.]
Presented (pursuant to leave given this day); read 1a, and referred to the Examiners.
LIMERICK HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS BILL. [H.L.]
Witnesses ordered to attend the Select Committee.
CITY AND SOUTH LONDON RAILWAY BILL. [H.L.]
Consent of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales signified, and Bill reported from the Select Committee, with Amendments.
IPSWICH DOCK BILL. [H.L.]
The KING'S consent signified, and Bill reported from the Select Committee, with Amendments.

EBBW VALE WATER BILL. [H.L.]
Reported from the Select Committee, with Amendments.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONALL ORDERS (No. 1) BILL.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 2) BILL.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 3) BILL.
Reported, without amendment, and recommitted to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.
UNITED DISTRICT GAS BILL. [H.L.]
CENTRAL LONDON RAILWAY BILL. [H.L.]
LEEDS CORPORATION BILL. [H.L.]
PORT TALBOT RAILWAY AND DOCKS BILL. [H.L.]
HERNE BAY GAS AND ELECTRICITY BILL.
Reported, with Amendments.

MIDLAND RAILWAY (SUPERANNUATION FUND) BILL. [H.L.]
Reported, without amendment.
LYMM URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1a, and referred to the Examiners.
GOVERNESSES BENEVOLENT INSTITU- TION BILL. [H.L.]
Returned from the Commons, agreed to.
ALEXANDRA PARK AND PALACE BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2a (according to order).
BELFAST CORPORATION BILL.
Read 2a, and committed: The Committee to be proposed by the Committee of Selection.
NORTHERN COUNTIES ELECTRICITY SUPPLY BILL.
Read 2a, and committed for Tuesday next.
PONTYPRIDD AND RHONDDA JOINT WATER BOARD BILL.
Read 2a, and committed: The Committee to be proposed by the Committee of Selection.

BISHOP'S WALTHAM WATER BILL.
Read 2a, and committed.
CHESTERFIELD CORPORATION RAILLESS TRACTION BILL.
SOUTHPORT CORPORATION BILL.
WESTGATE AND BIRCHINGTON GAS AND ELECTRICITY BILL.
Read 2a, and committed: The Committees to be proposed by the Committee of Selection.
GAS ORDERS CONFIRMATION BILL. [H.L.]
ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 3) BILL. [H.L.]
ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 4) BILL. [H.L.]
CLEVELAND AND DURHAM COUNTY ELECTRIC POWER BILL.
MYNYDDISLWYN URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL BILL.
ABERYSTWYTH CORPORATION BILL. [H.L.]
Committee to meet on Tuesday next.

COMPANIES (CONSOLIDATION) ACT, 1908, AMENDMENT BILL. [H.L.]
A Bill to amend the provisions of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, with respect to private companies —Was presented by the Lord Granard (E. Granard); read 1a, and to be printed. (No. 54.)
PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY BILL. [H.L.]
A Bill to amend the Law relating to Public Rights of Way—Was presented by the Lord Eversley; read 1a, and to be printed. (No. 55.)
UNDERGROUND WORKROOMS BILL. [H.L.]
Committee of the Whole House (which stands appointed for Monday next) put off to Monday the 16 th instant.
GOMM HEIRLOOM'S BILL. [H.L.]
Moved, That the Order made on Tuesday the 22nd day of April last, "That this House will not receive any Petition for a Private Bill later than Tuesday the 29th instant unless such Private Bill shall have been approved by the High Court of Justice, nor any Petition for a Private Bill approved by the High Court of Justice after Thursday the 1st of May next," be dispensed with in respect of a Bill to authorise the sale of personal chattels bequeathed by the will of the late Dame Elizabeth Ann Gomm as heirlooms, and to declare the trusts of the proceeds of such sale, and for other purposes; agreed to: Bill presented accordingly, and read 1a.
COMPULSORY TAKING OF LAND (INSANITARY PROPERTY).
The Earl Stanhope discharged from serving on the Select Committee, and the Lord Greville added to the Committee in his place.

DEFENCE WORKS AT CROMARTY FIRTH.
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH: My Lords, I rise to ask His Majesty's Government whether operations have commenced in connection with the proposed naval defence works on either side of the entrance to Cromarty Firth; whether any representations have been made to the Admiralty as to the risk of damage to earthworks and mounds and other features of archæological interest in the district in question; and whether the most careful instructions will be given to those who are engaged in the operations to avoid such damage.
I was under the impression when I put this Question on the Paper that it would come appropriately after a stage of the Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendment Bill, which is in the charge of the noble Earl the First Commissioner of Works; but that Bill, the Report stage of which was down for to-day, has been postponed. I did not think it wise, however, to postpone this Question, for fear proceedings were more advanced than I had any actual knowledge of, and that damage might be done in the meantime before the attention of those concerned was called to the matter. At the entrance to Cromarty Firth there are two well

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known hills, one on the north, called the Hill of Nigg, and one on the south side, generally known as Cromarty Hill. The latter, from an archæological point of view, is, I believe, the more important of the two hills. Those who know much more than I do of the matter—I need not tell your Lordships that I am proceeding largely upon information communicated to me—say that from an archæological point of view Cromarty Hill is of the highest importance; that indications are not wanting that it contains great treasures for the archæologist, dating back, some go so far as to say, to the Stone Age; that it is one of the few spots in Scotland remaining unexplored which have connections with that period, and that nothing should be done in this particular locality rashly and without due consideration. I am assured that much research work remains to be done on and in the vicinity of Cromarty Hill, and that apprehensions have been aroused that operations which are foreshadowed might be conducted without due care. My informants go further and say that the whole district, which we know it. Scotland as the Black Isle, is, like any other peninsula, of great importance from the point of view which I have endeavoured to indicate.
If anything is necessary from a strategical point of view for the defence of an important harbour like Cromarty Firth, no one for a moment would pretend that the interests for which I am speaking could be compared with that. I am not such a fanatic as to suggest that nothing should be touched if by leaving it alone serious disadvantage would be caused to the defence works necessary for the purpose of the Admiralty. Into that I do not for a moment enter, and I would be the last person to suggest that the two interests were comparable. The plea which I put forward is this, that nothing should be done carelessly or unnecessarily or without due examination, and this seems to me in all the circumstances to be quite a reasonable plea to advance, especially if put forward in reasonable time.
Since I put the Question on the Paper I have been urged to add a representation in regard to the light railway which is being made down that side of Cromarty
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Firth. That is not, I suppose, a matter under the control of the Admiralty; but I think I might take an opportunity of calling attention publicly to the whole question in order to make sure that nothing will be done which is not absolutely necessary, and that when any mound or other place of archæological interest is disturbed care will be taken that it is done under competent advice and supervision.
LORD ASHBY ST. LEDGERS: The answer to the question whether operations have commenced at Cromarty Firth is in the affirmative, for works are already in progress on both the north and the south sides of the Firth. The noble Lord has stated that he is quite aware that archæological interest could not come before the question of the defence of the harbour. He admits that the latter is a much more important thing, and I have no reason whatever to complain of the Question which he has asked. As a matter of fact, up to the present time no representations have reached the Admiralty on this subject, but, in accordance with the usual practice which the Admiralty have always pursued, attention is being paid to the matter, and should any discoveries be made they will be noted and any articles found in the process of excavation will be preserved.
I do not know whether the noble Lord or his informants may have to some extent confused the works on Cromarty Firth and the proposed works at Scapa in the Orkneys. In the latter case representations have reached the Admiralty, and I have to state that in the event of any work being carried out at Scapa—that matter has not yet been decided—instructions have been given to ensure the preservation of anything that is found and the recording of all particulars of interest. But whether or not there has been confusion as to the two places, the noble Lord can rest assured that the Admiralty are fully alive to the importance of injuring as little as possible, if indeed it is necessary to injure it at all, any mound or object of archæological interest.
House adjourned at twenty minutes before Five o'clock, till Tomorrow, half-past Ten o'clock.