§ MR. PIMsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Why the recommendation of Professor Tyndall, for the further encouragement in Ireland of the system of illuminating lighthouses with gas instead of oil, as given in his Report to the Board of Trade on the 29th June last, has not been acted on, Professor Tyndall's Report having been made after his inspection (by order of the Board of Trade) of the lighthouses at the Howth Baily and Wicklow Head, where this system has been in operation, in the first case for more than four years, and in the se- 984 cond case for more than two years, with successful results; whether it is the fact that the Commissioners of Irish Lights have asked the consent of the Board of Trade to apply the gas system of illumination to the lighthouses at Mino Head and Hook Tower, on the South East Coast of Ireland, and that that consent has been withheld by the Board of Trade; and, on what grounds the Secretary to the Board of Trade withholds his consent to the more extended use of a system of illumination which, in addition to other advantages stated by Dr. Tyndall, is at the same time more brilliant and more economical?
MR. SHAWLEFEVREIn consequence, Sir, of the very favourable report on the subject, the Board of Trade placed themselves in communication with the proper authorities with the view to extend the proposed system of gas to all the lighthouses of the United Kingdom; but they found considerable difference of opinion on the subject among the local authorities and on the part of the Government Engineers, Messrs. Stephenson, and the Northern Lights Commissioners as to the alleged superiority in brilliancy and economy of gas as compared with oil. In consequence the Board of Trade thought it best to direct that an accurate investigation should be made, and until it is completed they do not think it is desirable to extend the application of gas to the lighthouses of Ireland. It is true that the Irish Lights Commissioners have applied for permission to introduce gas instead of oil; but the sanction of the Board is withheld until the result of the investigation is ascertained.