§ MR. STEWART MACLIVERasked the President of the Board of Trade, If his attention has been called to the unfortunate experiences of the men employed at the Eddystone Lighthouse, who were without food and fuel, and unable to communicate with anyone; and, whether he will take steps to avoid such a state of things in future, by providing a steamer to make visits at fixed dates, or by establishing a telegraph service to the lighthouse?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAIN,in reply, said, the responsibility of looking after lighthouses round the coast rested with the Trinity House, and he was informed that they were investigating this case. Moan-while, he had learnt that, although some of the reports published were exaggerated, yet it was true that relief was delayed by the boisterous state of the weather. No signals for provisions were made, so far as were known, until February 19th, and on the following day the men were landed. With reference to the suggestion of the hon. Member, there was little use in providing a steamer to make visits at fixed dates if the weather was such as to make relief impracticable. Telegraphic communication would not have prevented the delay, because that delay had not arisen from any want of knowledge on shore as to the condition of the men in the lighthouse.