§ COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Who gives the orders for the Shannon sluices at Athlone and Meelick to be raised; were these sluices raised on Tuesday, the 12th, and when was the order given for the raising of these sluices; and, what was the height of water above the bottom of the lock on the 12th June and on subsequent days, and did it ever reach within nine inches of winter flood level?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)The orders for raising the sluices at Athlone and Meelick are given by the Resident Engineer, Mr. Crosthwait. The sluices at Athlone were not raised on Tuesday, June 12. At Meelick on that day all were raised except one, which was under repair. The height of water on the upper sill at Athlone Lock on that day was eight feet, and at Hamilton Lock, Meelick, six feet nine and a half. The maximum height of the flood was on June 15, when the depths were—Athlone, upper sill, 8 feet 6; lower sill, 13 feet 3; Meelick, upper sill, 7 feet 4; lower sill, 9. I am informed that the level of the winter water is very variable. Above Athlone it reaches the surface of the land, when there is a depth of 8 feet 2, while on the upper sill at Meelick the depth is 7 feet 6.
§ COLONEL NOLANwould like to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether he had not stated that the water at these 1118 places was over 8 feet, while the Parliamentary level was 6 feet 6?
§ MR. JACKSONsaid, that was so; but he was informed that unless the course taken had been adopted a very large area of land would have been flooded.
§ COLONEL NOLANasked, if the right hon. Gentleman meant to say that keeping down the sluices would prevent flooding.
§ MR. JACKSONsaid, so he was informed.
§ COLONEL NOLANWhat, all?
§ MR. JACKSONYes, Sir.
§ COLONEL NOLANasked, if that was to be accepted as a correct engineering opinion, that keeping down the sluices would prevent flooding?
§ MR. JACKSONsaid, he was informed that unless the water had been kept back a very much larger area would have been flooded lower down.