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believed to have had the effect of suspending (or at least of retarding), improvements; and hence several proprietors who intended to commence works, were deterred by unsatisfactory reports of the labour market, as well as by the continued wet weather, and thought it better to pospone them. Yet, under such discouraging circumstances, important and valuable works of land improvement have been carried out in each of the four counties which belong either wholly, or in part, to this district. Thus, in Roscommon, a large extent of improvement (chiefly thorough drainage), has been completed on the estates of Mr. W. Longfield, the Honourable and Very Reverend the Dean of Lismore, Colonel French, M.P., Mr. Patrick H. O'Connor, Mr. W. J. M'Loughlin, Mr. James Young, and Mr. J. L. Hackett; in Mayo, on the properties of Mr. S. Bournes, Mr. William F. Smith, and Mr. Frederick T. Lewen; in Sligo, on the estates of Mr. R. J. Verschoyle, Mr. A. L. Popham, Captain J. Wingfield King, and Major Richard Phibbs; and in the north and north-west division of Galway, on the properties of Mr. William Burke, Mr. Charles P. Archer, and Mr. D. O'C. French. The works, so far as investigated at progress inspections, have been generally well executed, but at increased expense, as compared with the average of previous years, the difference being, in ordinary cases, from ten to twenty per cent.

"The increasing appreciation by the small farmers of the district of the value of land improvement, (already noticed in former reports,) has been still further increased by the marked beneficial results of effective drainage during the two last unprecedentedly wet years. In the course of a recent tour through the greater part of the district, I was everywhere assured that many hundreds of families had been preserved from hunger' by the improvement of their farms, particularly by thorough drainage, which had saved their crops from destruction; and by bog reclamation, which had enabled them to raise almost the only sound potato crops of the district on tracts which had previously been totally uncultivated and unproductive. In fact, there appeared to be no difference of opinion on the subject, as all who spoke to me in reference to it, expressed not only willingness, but anxiety, to undertake the repayment of the expense, if their landlords would carry out the works under the provisions of the Land Improvement Acts.

"The various farm buldings referred to in former reports are now either completed or very nearly so; and one new farm-steading of the very best description (having an excellent new farm-house attached), on the property of Mr. St. George Caulfield (barony of Ballymoo and county of Roscommon), has been commenced and completed within the year. This farmsteading, and the well-planned and carefully-built farm offices of Mr. Henry Faussett, (barony of Tyrawley, and county of Mayo), form a valuable addition to the agricultural buildings already completed in the district under the provisions of the Acts."

Mr. Samuel U. Roberts, inspector of drainage for Galway, reports, that "the works carried out in this district under the Land Improvement Act during the past year, have been confined to the completion of farm offices and some drainage works previously commenced.

"Mr. Blakeney, of Abbert, has by a second loan built a large addition to his farm offices near Abbert, and the steading is now very commodious and perfect. Mr. Blakeney is now commencing very extensive works of arterial, main, and thorough drainage, both at Abbert and Castleblakeney, both of which promise to be remunerative.

"Mr. Blake, of Glenlo, has completed the works of fencing and clearing on his property near Galway.

"The extraordinary wetness of last autumn and winter retarded the completion of many works that were in progress, and prevented others for which loans had been obtained being proceeded with. There is, however, every prospect of extensive work being carried out in the approaching season under the provisions of the acts, not only for the improvement of land, but with the view of affording employment during a season which is anticipated will be attended with much distress to the labouring classes in portions of the western district."

Southern District.-In this district the sum of 13,610%. has been issued, as follows:-Limerick, 4020l.; Tipperary, 35607.; Cork, 2570l.; and Kerry, 34601.

Mr. John Cox, inspector of drainage for the county of Limerick and adjoining districts, reports, that, "during the last few years the landed proprietors have shown much apathy in regard to extending works of land improvement on their estates, the excuse being the scarcity of labourers, and the high price demanded for task-work; but the necessity of affording employment during the last winter and present spring, in consequence of the late unfavourable season, has given a considerable impetus to the recommencement of works of a reproductive character as compared with the last three or four years. During the last year he has prepared preliminary plans, &c., the estimates for loans amounting to nearly 13,000l. Those works would include three applications for farm buildings, and two for labourers' dwellings, the latter in cases of the Earl of Devon and Archdeacon Goold. Within the same period he has reported on several works of like character in progress; and he is happy in being able to state, that in no instance has he heard anything like an expression of regret from the several parties for having undertaken such works; on the contrary, a strong sense of the benefits derived has been expressed by all, whether landlord, tenant, or operative.

Mr. J. Jocelyn Poe, inspector of drainage for the county of Tipperary and adjoining districts, reports that, "more attention to land improvement works have been paid than during the last years, and that some application have been recently made for loans both for drainage and for farm buildings, that several of the works which were in progress have been satisfactorily completed, fully realizing to the proprietors the advantages they had anticipated.

"The extreme wetness of the two last years has fairly tested the system of deep thorough drainage, and proved its superior advantages. The tenant farmers who were formerly averse to it are now adopting it, and drains less than four feet deep have now become the exception; and he finds that almost every farmer drains effectually a portion of his farm every year, and, in addition, frequently subsoils the tillage land.

"The drainage works most extensively carried on at present are on the estate of Mr. Carden, adjoining Barnane. He has used tiles almost exclusively, obtained from different tileries in the country, the best being supplied from Lord Derby's estate, near Tipperary. Two hundred and fifty persons have been employed daily at Mr. Carden's works, greatly benefiting the labours, some of whom gladly come a distance of four miles to their work.

"The farm steadings erected by Mr. Trant, near Dovea, have progressed

rapidly, and, though extensive, will be convenient in every respect, affording a useful model for other proprietors.

"In the barony of Owney and Arra, Mr. William Power, who recently purchased part of the Henry estate, has drained very perfectly upwards of 100 acres. Mr. Hanagan, and Mr. William Poe, who had also purchased some lots of the same estate, are proceeding to apply for loans for drainage; and he has heard that other applications will also be made, as the proprietors are anxious to afford remunerative employment to the labouring population of the district, many of whom are at present much distressed."

Mr. Arthur U. Roberts, inspector of drainage for the county of Waterford, reports that, "no new loans have been granted in my district for the last twelve months, but an application is about to be made by a proprietor of considerable property near Waterford for a loan of 2000l., to be expended in drainage and buildings.

"I believe the old loans have all been closed; and in a great many places the tenants are now paying a per centage for the money which has been expended on their farms. It will be satisfactory to hear that, as far as I can learn, these payments are made most cheerfully, and in many cases tenants have applied to their landlords for sums to be expended in such works as the Board consider profitable, saying, they would gladly pay the percentage.'

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He also states, with pleasure," that, in the county of Waterford the tenants themselves evince a greater disposition to expend their own money in drainage and fencing than formerly;" and, "that this has in a great measure been brought about from their observing the improvements commenced and completed under the Land Improvement Act."

The foregoing extracts, from the annual reports received from the inspectors of drainage under the Land Improvement Acts, show the general character and extent of some of the principal works executed, or which are in progress, in the differet districts from north to south; and there can be no doubt that the success which has attended every department of the work has led not only to an increased demand for loans, but has been the cause of even more numerous and extensive works being undertaken and executed from their own funds by landed proprietors as well as by their tenant farmers, who in every case have followed the system laid down in our printed instructions, which include thorough drainage, the erection of farm buildings, accompanied by plans and detailed estimates, as well as plans, specifications, and estimates for the erection of labourers' dwellings.

ARTERIAL DRAINAGE, WITH IMPROVEMENTS OF NAVIGATION AND WATER POWER.-Our duties in connection with the works of arterial drainage have been confined, during the past year, to determining, on the application of proprietors, the amount of increased rent to be paid by tenants holding under leases in respect of the benefit derived by them from improvements in their holdings, resulting from the drainage operations, and to giving information, assistance, and advice to the trustees of districts, on such points connected with their trusts as they might request, and which we have felt it within our province to give-all executive operations having, as stated in the previous year's report, been brought to a close.

The Clonakilty slob-lands still remain under our charge, and the Shanagolden district also has not yet been finally disposed of.

Four supplemental awards have been made during the year by direction

of your lordships, on the recommendation of the commissioners of special inquiry, the amounts remitted being as follow:-Lough Dalla, October 10, 1861, 371. 9s. 11d.; Mullafarry, 243l. 98. 5d.; Moyne and Crosspatrick, 219l. 128. 3d.; Carriggower, Oct. 22, 789l. 19s. 9d.; total, 1624l. Īls. 4d. The whole expenditure charge against the different undertakings commenced under the arterial drainage acts, including 70,201 for works chargeable to counties, amounted at the end of March, 1862, to 2,382,0264; and the repayments in respect thereof, amounted to 537,7971.

HARBOURS.-Kingstown Harbour.-The shed or roof on the new steam packet pier refered to in last year's report was duly and satisfactorily completed; the operations of landing and embarking passengers and her Majesty's mails, continue to be carried on with despatch and regularity. The works have been chiefly for repairs and maintenance, which, from the extent of the breakwaters, wharfs, and approaches, are unavoidably heavy. We are also levelling off, regulating. and fencing the top surface of the piers.

Howth Harbour.-The work here has been confined to adding some heavy rough material to, and repairing the sea slope of, the breakwater, which requires to be closely attended to. No serious damage was suffered during the past winter.

Dunmore East.-During the past summer we gave the sea slopes of the breakwater and the top surface of the arched cellars and wharfs a thorough repair, and they are now in excellent order. No damage was sustained during the past winter, though some very fearful storms occurred.

Donaghadee.-The removal of a sheet of rock in situ in front of the North Pier Head has been a very difficult, and, for its extent, expensive operation; but it progresses satisfactorily, and we have no doubt of bringing the works of improvement to a close in the summer of 1862.

INLAND NAVIGATIONS.-Shannon and Maigue.-These navigations, as well as the various works on the Lower Shannon, are in excellent order, and notwithstanding the unprecedented floods that have prevailed, we do not anticipate a necessity for any serious outlay beyond that for ordinary repairs and maintenance, except for the basin at Foynes, which still continues to be affected seriously by silting.

Tyrone Navigation-Coal Island Canal.-The expenditure here has been confined to mere ordinary works of maintenance, and nothing beyond this is likely to be required for the ensuing year, the entire navigation being in a very satisfactory state.

Boyne Navigation.-The works of this navigation are fully maintained and in excellent condition.

POST ROADS.-On the application of the postmaster-general under the 61st section of the above Act, repairs have been executed, during the past year, on post roads, situated in the following counties:-Clare, Cork, Donegal, Kerry, Leitrim, Sligo, Tipperary, Wicklow. These repairs have been executed under the superintendence of the respective county surveyors, at a cost of 1,257l. 11s. 5d., repayable by grand jury presentment at subsequent assizes.

THAMES EMBANKMENT COMMISSION (SURREY SIDE), 1862. Report of the Commissioners appointed to examine into Plans for Embanking the Surrey side of the River Thames, within the Metropolis.

WE the undersigned members of your Majesty's Commission appointed to examine plans for embanking the Surrey side of the River Thames, within the metropolis, and to report" which of the said plans of embankment will, in our opinion, conduce with the greatest efficiency and economy to the improvement, embellishment, and convenience of that part of the metropolis, improve the navigation of the river, and provide a public thoroughfare, without stopping such trade as must be carried on upon the bank of the river, and also upon the cost and means of carrying the same into execution," beg to submit the following remarks.

The nature of the inquiry entrusted to us was made known by advertisements in the newspapers, and twenty designs were submitted for consideration. A short description of each is appended. The authors have attended, given full explanations, and stated their respective views, as will be seen in the evidence hereto annexed.

We must here express our opinion of the excellence of many of the plans submitted to us; and although we cannot recommend any one plan for adoption in its entirety as meeting all the requirements of the case, yet the principal features of some of them are embodied in the plan we have the honour to suggest.

Some of the plans comprise the whole length of the Surrey shore from Deptford to Battersea Park; and we have accordingly directed our inquiries to that extent.

We propose to divide this district into three sections-the first extending from Deptford to Westminster Bridge; the second from Westminster Bridge to Vauxhall Bridge; and the third from Vauxhall Bridge to Battersea Park.

With respect to the first section, as the existing thoroughfares with the new street now being made between Southwark and Blackfriars Road will, in our opinion, afford sufficiently convenient and direct means of communication for the traffic-and as the flooding of the low-lying districts could be obviated by a more efficient system of drainage-there does not appear to us any public necessity for an embankment and roadway between Deptford and Westminster Bridge. The formation of such a roadway would involve a vast expenditure of money, and cause a great disturbance of the trade and commerce of that part of the metropolis. If, however, the owners and occupiers of such wharf property should be desirous at any time of constructing an embankment, which, whilst increasing their own accommodation, would ensure uniformity of design, and improve the navigation of the river, we are of opinion that every facility should be afforded them for so doing, although we are unable to recommend that the cost should be defrayed by the public.

With respect to the second section, namely, from Westminster Bridge to Vauxhall, we are of opinion that a new and improved communication is necessary, and this, we think, may be effected by constructing an embankment and roadway between those points. The property adjacent to the river between Lambeth Church and Vauxhall Bridge is of an inferior character. The wharf walls are insufficient to keep out the water at high

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