HC Deb 11 March 1864 vol 173 cc1817-8
MR. SCULLY

said, he wished to ask the President of the Board of Trade, Is it finally decided, or still under deliberation, to place a Light Ship at Daunt's Rock, off Cork Harbour; has his attention been called to the proposal to mark the site of Daunt's Rock by means of a Lighthouse at Robert's Head; also to the construction, at trifling expense, of an entrance from the sea into the artificial Dock at Robert's Cove, excavated a few years since by the Irish Board of Works; and will he cause inquiry to be made respecting such Lighthouse and Dock Entrance as works of public utility, and to provide increased security or refuge on a frequented coast? He should not object to any explanation which the right hon. Gentleman might give, because that right hon. Gentleman would answer the question and would not be impertinent.

MR. MILNER GIBSON

said, in reply, that the Trinity Corporation and the Ballast Board of Dublin recommended that a Light Ship or some kind of Beacon should be placed upon Daunt's Rock, but the Trinity Board had stated that the expense of such a Light Ship ought not to be thrown upon the general trade frequenting St. George's Channel, but upon the ships frequenting Cork Harbour. The authorities in Cork declined to bear the expense, and in that position the matter was now placed. The Mercantile Marine Fund was the only one at the disposal of Government for the purpose of supporting Light Ships, and as the authorities objected to throw the support of that Light Ship upon the fund, of course it must be provided from some other source. He trusted the authorities at Cork would be induced to support the expense. With respect to Robert's Cove, the dock there had been executed by the Board of Works in Ireland, and they had no information at the Admiralty or Board of Trade on the subject.

MR. MAGUIRE

said, he wished to know whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the Harbour Commissioners of Cork had no power whatever to devote any portion of their funds to a Light Ship in a place which was something like five miles beyond their jurisdiction?

MR. MILNER GIBSON

said, he had no information as to the powers of the Cork authorities, but he thought if they assented it would be easy by legislation to provide a toll for the purpose.

MR. SCULLY

Would the right hon. Gentleman cause inquiry to be made on the subject?

MR. MILNER GIBSON

said, he would.