I move the First Reading of a Bill to make provision for the formulating and carrying out of a scheme of arterial drainage of the River Owenmore and its tributaries. Prior to the European War steps were taken by the Congested Districts Board to set up a special drainage district to deal with flooding in connection with the Owenmore and its tributaries. Considerable progress had been made with the preliminaries. Consents had been received from some 90 per cent. of the proprietors. A qualified engineer had been sent down as required by the Act of 1863 to hold an inquiry and to hear objections, and he had reported in favour of the scheme. It is now proposed to deal with this particular local problem. A higher contribution will be given in this case as the district is a congested district than would be probably given in most similar works.
RIVER OWENMORE DRAINAGE BILL, 1925—FIRST STAGE.
Question—"That leave be given to introduce the Bill"—put and agreed to.
Second Stage ordered for Tuesday, 3rd November, 1925.