§ MR. LANEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, At what date the construction of the Royal Dock at Haul-bowline was commenced; what was the total amount of expenditure on the work up to the 31st December 1885; what was the original estimated cost; whether the plans provided for the erection of suitable workshops connected 1204 with the dock; and, whether, considering the importance of having a proper dock in Cork Harbour in which Her Majesty's ships could be repaired, and the great dearth of employment in Queenstown, he can promise to accelerate the completion of the work by employing additional labourers and artizans?
THE LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. R. W. DUFF)In reply to the hon. Member, I have to say that the work was commenced in the year 1865, and the expenditure up to the 31st December, 1885, amounted to £494,845, the work having been chiefly done by free labour. The original plans, which proposed the employment of convict labour, estimated the cost at £550,000. The original plan contains a design for the erection of workshops; but the time has not yet come when they are wanted. In regard to the last paragraph of the Question, I beg to say that the works are drawing to a close. To engage extra labourers just now would defeat the object which the hon. Member appears to have in view.
§ MR. LANEMight I ask the hon. Gentleman when he thinks it will be necessary to commence the workshops?
§ MR. R. W. DUFFI think the erection of the workshops will have to be delayed till the Dockyard is completed.
§ MR. LANEMight I ask what time the hon. Gentleman thinks the work will be completed, considering that it has now been 22 years in progress?
§ MR. R. W. DUFFI think the work will be completed in the course of the present year.