and the Storage of Water. 
7 
could borrow money and caiTy out improvements. The new 
Act gave the means for the extension of these Commissions to 
other parts of the country, and also for the formation of elective 
drainage districts, without the enormous cost attending a special 
Act of Parliament. The Inclosure Commissioners have the 
management of all proceedings under the Act, and its powers 
cannot be used without their approval. They are empowered to 
hold a local inquiry into the merits of schemes submitted to 
them, and to see that all persons interested have due notice of 
what is intended to be done. The provisional orders issued for 
any approved scheme are embodied in a general Bill brought in 
every Session, which gives all the power of a special Act of 
Parliament. The costs of obtaining the order do not exceed 
from 50/. to lOOZ., except in the case of great opposition, and 
then these are reduced to a minimum. The preliminary inquiry, 
held by a Commissioner in the locality, is simple and inex- 
pensive in the extreme as compared with a contest before the 
Parliamentary Committees of the Houses of Parliament. 
The Act is divided into three parts. The first relates to the 
extension of Commissions of Sewers into all parts of England 
upon application to the Inclosure Commissioners by the pro- 
prietors of one-tenth part of the land within the boundaries of a 
proposed district. These Commissioners, when duly constituted, 
have power to borrow money and levy rates for carrying out 
works for the improvement or maiu'ienance of existing water- 
courses or banks ; for removing weirs, mill-dams or other obstruc- 
tions ; for making new water-courses, banks, outfalls, and other 
works required for drainage, for the supply of water for cattle, 
and for warping or irrigation. Any scheme can be stopped in 
embryo by the dissent of the proprietors of one-half of the land 
proposed to be embraced by the Commission. 
The second part of the Act creates a new body, termed an 
Elective Drainage District. Under the first part of the Act the 
Commissioners are appointed by the Crown, who hold office for 
life. Under this division the Drainage Board consists of a 
definite number of qualified persons who are elected by the 
whole body of tax-payers in the newly formed district, and who 
hold office only for one year, but are eligible for re-election. 
The Drainage Board has the same power of raising money, 
levying taxes, and carrying out works as a Commission of 
Sewers, as already described. 
The third part of the Act gives further powers for obtaining 
outfalls for drainage. Any person interested in land who finds 
it necessary to open new drains, or to improve existing drains, 
through the lands of other owners, is to make application to such 
owner, and send him a plan of the proposed improvement, with 
