§ Colonel NOLAN (Galway, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if it be true that an excursion steamer called the Bonnie Boon was recently allowed to sail from Belfast to Bangor, County Down, with more than two thousand passengers on board; and, if he can state the maximum number she is authorized by the Board of Trade Certificate to carry?
§ * THE PEESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.I have no information whatever respecting the circumstance referred to. It is for the Local Authorities to take such steps as they may think fit to prevent or punish overcrowding in these cases. The Board of Trade have no staff for the purpose. The numbers of passengers to be carried, as authorized by the passenger certificates issued for this vessel, are as follows:—445 from Belfast to Ballycastle or Ard-glass Point during daylight in summer; 556 from Belfast to within Carrickfergus and Bangor and to Groom's Point; 954 on the River Lagan, but not below Holywood. I have caused communications to be sent to the Local Authorities on the subject.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)If it is shown that the steamer carried more than the maximum number of passengers she is authorized to carry, will the Board of Trade prosecute the owners?
§ * SIR M. HICKS BEACHNo, Sir; it is for the Local Authorities to prosecute.