§ MR. MAGUIREsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that the wreck of the City of New York, an iron-built ship of large tonnage, has not yet been removed from Daunt's Rock, off Cork Harbour, and that no steps whatever have been adopted for its removal; whether he has official knowledge of the fact that in June last a brig, laden with sugar, was so damaged by striking on the wreck that she had to be towed into Cork Harbour; and there stranded on a bank to prevent her from sinking; that not only was her cargo totally destroyed, but a considerable expense had to be incurred to fit her again for sea; whether it is not the opinion of the naval authorities of the Board of Trade that the position of the wreck has very much increased the natural dangers of the Rock, especially to vessels leaving or entering Cork Harbour from the West or South-west; whether, in the judgment of the Board of Trade, the owners or underwriters of the City of New York are the proper parties to be called on and compelled to remove the wreck, or to be made responsible for its non-removal; and, in case the Board be of opinion that these parties, or either of them, will not be compelled to remove the wreck, whether the Board of Trade will themselves, on the part of the Government and in the public interest, take any steps to accomplish that object, or whether they will allow it to remain in its present position for years to come?
§ MR. MILNER GIBSONSir, my attention has not recently been called to the fact that the wreck of the City of New York has not been removed from Daunt's Rock, but more than a year ago the subject was mentioned by a deputation which came to the Board of Trade. The casualty referred to in the second question of the hon. Member was not reported to the Board of Trade. It is the opinion of the nautical authorities at the Board of Trade that the position of the wreck slightly increases the danger to small vessels, who might but for that pass over the rock without touching. It seems only reasonable that the owners of the City of New York should remove the wreck, but I am not aware that there is any law to compel them to do so. In some cases in Harbour Acts special provision is made to compel owners to remove wrecks at their own expense. In reply to the last question, whether the Government intend to take any steps to remove the wreck? I may state that, independently of there being no funds applicable to such a purpose, that it has never been held to be the duty of the Board of Trade or Trinity Corporation to undertake the removal of sunken vessels, their province being the marking of the position of such dangers, and warning mariners of their existence. However, we have had under consideration the question, whether it would not be desirable that powers should be obtained to remove wrecks dangerous to navigation when owners and other parties cannot be compelled to do so.