§ MR. CANDLISHsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade, What sums have been expended in placing a Light Vessel near the Little Basses Rock, off the Coast of Ceylon, and what is the annual cost of lighting and maintaining that vessel; what is the estimated cost of erecting a Lighthouse on the Great Basses Rock, as proposed in the Bill now before the House; what rate per ton is now charged upon vessels for the maintenance of the present light, from what vessels and where is it collected, and what is the total amount annually collected; and, what toll per ton will be imposed under the Bill now before the House, and if that toll, or any toll can be imposed without the concurrence of the authorities at Ceylon? He would like also to ask the hon. Member, if he will postpone the second reading of the Bill on this subject to Monday?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREsaid, in reply, that the sum expended on the Little Basses Rock Lightship was £12,000, and the annual cost of maintaining it was £2,000. The estimated cost of the Lighthouse on the Great Basses Rock was £65,000. At present a toll of 1d. per ton was paid on all vessels passing the light, and it was collected in the United Kingdom, in India, in the Mauritius, and at the Cape. This produced an annual income of £6,500, and it was proposed to increase the toll by ½d. per ton. It was the intention of the Government to proceed that evening with the second reading of the Bill.