§ MR. H. F. H. ELLIOT (Ayrshire, N.)asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he is aware that the Girvan and Portpatrick Railway is of great, importance to farmers in South Ayrshire, for the purpose of carrying their farm produce to market and for keeping them supplied with articles of agricultural value, such as lime, drain pipes, &c.; whether he is aware that the Girvan and Portpatrick Railway has suddenly suspended traffic, in consequence of its inability to come to terms with a rival Railway Company; whether he is aware that, though portions of the line are deemed by competent authorities to be insecure, the Girvan and Portpatrick Railway Company refuse to submit it to the examination of a surveyor of the Board of Trade; and, whether any steps can be taken by the Board of Trade to protect the public from the loss inflicted on it by a sudden and unlooked for suspension of railway traffic, as well as to determine whether the line is or is not safe for public use?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. MUNDELLA) (Sheffield, Brightside)The Board of Trade have no information on the various matters stated in the hon. Member's Question; but we have addressed a communication to the Railway Company, asking for explanations on all the points to which it refers. With regard to the statement that the line is insecure, we shall, in case we can obtain any information 1629 to warrant it, order an official inspection to be made at once.