§ MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMAN (Stirling, &c.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the present condition of a large part of the foreshore close to the Burgh of Queensferry, which was acquired under an Act of 1863 by the North British Railway for the purpose of the construction of a harbour; but which, the harbour not having been completed, remains in a condition which is dangerous to the public; whether he is aware that the company has been in vain requested either to complete the harbour, or to restore the foreshore to its original state, or to grant a lease of the ground for some useful purpose, and whether he can now intervene in the public interest, to cause an end to be put to the present state of things?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de WORMS,) Liverpool, East ToxtethI have been requested to answer the question for my right hon. Friend, who is unavoidably prevented from being in his place. I have asked the Railway Company for their observations on the state of things disclosed in the question of the right hon. Gentleman. The foreshore in question was acquired by the Railway Company from the proprietor of the adjoining estate, to whom it was decided by the Courts to belong; and the Crown has, therefore, no control over it.