§ MR. GRAYasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether it is the fact that the illuminant experiments at the South Foreland are to be discontinued next month, and how soon the Report of the Elder Brethren of Trinity House may be expected; and, whether, before the termination of these experiments, a trial will be made of the double "triform" plan of lighting, the refusal to test which by the Illuminants Committee caused the resignation of Dr. Ball, E.R.S., and other representatives of the Commissioners of Irish Lights?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINI have communicated with the Elder Brethren on this subject, and I have received the following reply:— 93 The experiments as a whole, as at present arranged, are to he discontinued at the end of the present month; hut the Report "being dependent on the receipt of intelligence from many observers, will occupy some time in completion. As regards the double 'triform' gas apparatus the Elder Brethren understand that, at least, six burners were to be used; hut as with only four burners a temperature of 350 Fahrenheit was sustained at South Foreland, and several valuable lenses were cracked with the heat, it is not considered desirable to try six burners. The Elder Brethren have recently had a visit from Dr. Ball and his colleagues of the Irish Lights, and they have reason to believe that these gentlemen are satisfied with the experiments."
§ MR. GRAYI beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether he is aware that the advocates of gas illumination for lighthouses claim that the double triform is the best for gas-lighting; and is it a fixed arrangement now that what the advocates of gas illumination consider to be the best system is not to be tested in experiments which it is assumed will test the value of the various lights? This is a very serious matter.
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINThe further Question of the hon. Gentleman invites an argumentative reply; but I will answer it in this way. The experiments are intended to show the comparative value of gas and oil; and if they satisfactorily agree upon a point with regard, say, to three burners, then, inasmuch as the multiplication of burners would equally apply to gas and oil, there would be no necessity for continuing the experiments further. There are other and special reasons against such an experiment as has been suggested in the letter from the Elder Brethren from which I have quoted.
§ MR. GRAYIn consequence of the extremely unsatisfactory answer which the right hon. Gentleman has given, I beg to give Notice that I will call further attention to this matter.