Serpentine, and constitutes such a nuisance as, in our opinion, ought to be immediately abated. The engineer of the Metropolitan Board of Works has informed us that the Board are about to commence works for the purpose of intercepting all this sewage, and that these works will be completed before the end of this summer. When this is done, the main cause of the past deterioration of the water will be removed" (Mr. Backburn). Question put, "That those words be added to the paragraph."-Committee divided:

Question, "That the paragraph, as amended, stand part of the proposed Report," put and agreed to.

Paragraph 3 read. Amendment proposed, in line 5, after the word "Serpentine," to leave out the words, "which renders it so unfit to be the place of recreation for the multitudes of all classes and from all places who flock to the Metropolis" (Capt. Archdall). Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the paragraph."-The Committee divided:

Question put, "That the paragraph, as amended, stand part of the proposed Report. -The Committee divided:

Question, "That this paragraph stand part of the proposed Report," put and negatived. Paragraph, proposed by Mr. Locke, read 1°, as follows: "The only corrections heretofore applied to the evils arising from these impurities have been the supply of a certain quantity of fresh water obtained from springs in the lake itself, the rainfall, and watershed, and from the Chelsea Water Company; these, however, have not been sufficient either for removing obnoxious exhalations, or for clearing the water of confervæ and other vegetable productions; and during the summer months of 1858 and 1859 a quantity of quicklime was thrown into the water, by which, for a time at least, the evils complained of were diminished." Amendment proposed, after the word "only," to leave out all the words to the end of the paragraph, in order to add the following words: "artificial means adopted for the purpose of correcting the evils arising from these impurities have been the supply of a certain quantity of water from the Chelsea Waterworks, and the application of quicklime during the summer months of 1858 and 1859, by the latter of which remedies the evils complained of were, for a time at least, diminished" (Mr. Walter). Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the proposed paragraph."-The Committee divided:

Question, "That this paragraph be added to the Draft Report," put and agreed to.
Paragraph 5 read. Several Amendments made.

Amendment proposed, in line 5, after the word "Serpentine," to insert the words, "the basin in front of Kensington Palace, the lake in Buckingham Palace Garden, and the St. James's Park lake" (Sir John Shelley). Question, "That those words be there inserted," put and negatived.

Another amendment proposed, in line 8, after the words "Duck Island," to insert the following words: "In 1858 Mr. Page was instructed by the First Commissioner of Works to investigate the question, and in 1859 a plan was prepared by him, which he stated would put the Serpentine in a clean and sanitary condition, and maintain it in that state, and also render it less dangerous to bathers and skaters. This plan received the sanction of the Government, and was submitted by them to Parliament; owing, however, to a change of Government before the Civil Estimates were voted, the opinion of Parliament was not taken upon it" (Lord John Manners). Question put, "That those words be there inserted," put and agreed to.

Amendment proposed, at the end of the paragraph, to add the following words:-" And although the works have made considerable progress, they are as yet incomplete" (Mr.. Locke). Question, "That those words be there added," put and agreed to.

Paragraph, as amended, agreed to.

Paragraphs 7 and 8 read, amended, and agreed to.

Paragraph 9 read. Amendments made.

Amendment proposed, at the end of the paragraph to add the following words :-“ And that the works necessary for its execution will be prejudicial to the appearance of that portion of Kensington Gardens where they are situated" (Lord John Manners). Question, "That those words be added to the paragraph," put and agreed to.

Paragraph, as amended, agreed to.

Paragraph 10 read. Amendment proposed, in line 1, to leave out all the words after the word "although," for the purpose of adding the following words :-"As regards the scheme of filtration, considering that no less than 14,000 7. out of the sum of 17,000l. granted by Parliament has already been expended, and seeing that it has been and is still recommended by high engineering authority, your Committee are of opinion that it should at all events have a fair trial, and for that purpose they recommend that the works already so far advanced should be completed" (Mr. Locke). Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the paragraph."-The Committee divided:

Paragraph 12 read. Amendment proposed, in page 3, line 3, to leave out all the words after the words "Your Committee," to the end of the paragraph, in order to add the following words (Mr. Locke): "believe that such a supply of fresh water may be obtained from the springs within or contiguous to the Serpentine from an enlargement of the watershed of the Park and Kensington Gardens, and from other sources which have been pointed out to the Committee. Some of this supply may be obtained by means of simple gravitation, at a small expense; and under these circumstances, your Committee do not recommend the plan of pumping water at Duck Island from the lower gravel bed at Westminster, several witnesses having expressed doubts both as to the fitness and sufficiency of this source of supply." Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the paragraph," put and negatived.

Question proposed, "That the proposed words be there added." Amendment proposed to the Question, to leave out from the words, "Your Committee," to the end of the proposed Amendment. Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the proposed Amendment."-Committee divided:

And the numbers being equal, the Chairman gave his vote with the Noes.

Question, "That the proposed words, viz., 'believe that such a supply of fresh water may be obtained from the springs within or contiguous to the Serpentine from an enlargement of the watershed of the Park and Kensington Gardens, and from other sources which have been pointed out to the Committee. Some of this supply may be obtained by means of simple gravitation, at a small expense," be added to the paragraph, put and agreed to.

Question, "That the paragraph, as amended, stand part of the Draft Report," put and agreed to.

Paragraph 13 read.

Amendments made.

Amendment proposed, to add the following words at the end of the paragraph (Mr. Blackburn): "It appears to the Committee that sufficient attention has not hitherto been paid to directing the drainage water of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens into the Serpentine, and that a large quantity of this additional supply has been diverted by the old Ranelagh Sewer, which at present crosses the park. We think that on due consideration of the new sewer the old one should be closed, and that the whole surface drainage of the Park and Gardens should, where the levels admit of it, be directed to the Serpentine." Question put, "That those words be added to the paragraph."

Amendment proposed, in line 12, after the word "be," to leave out all the words to the end of the paragraph, in order to add the following words, "not to proceed with until it shall have been shown by experience that the other modes which have been proposed for keeping the water in a pure condition are insufficient to that purpose" (Mr. Walter). Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the paragraph."

Ayes, 8.

Lord John Manners.

Sir John Shelley.

Sir Joseph Paxton.

Lord Fermoy.

Mr. Tite.

Mr. A. Egerton.
Captain Archdall.
Mr. Beach.

Noes, 6.

Mr. Blackburn.

Sir Morton Peto.

Mr. Locke.

Mr. Walter.

Sir Frederick Smith.

Sir Matthew Ridley.

Question

Question put, "That this paragraph stand part of the proposed Report."-The Committee divided:

Paragraph 15 read. Amendment proposed, To leave out from the word "The," to the word "attained," for the purpose of inserting these words, "Whenever the Metropolitan Board have completed their works for the diversion of sewage from the Serpentine." Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the paragraph," put and negatived. Words added. Paragraph, as amended, read and agreed to.

Question, "That the Draft Report, as amended, be the Report of the Committee to The House," put and agreed to.

Ordered, To Report, together with the Minutes of Evidence.