§ MR. SERJEANT SHERLOCKasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce, during the present Session, any measure for the improvement of the drainage of the River Shannon?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, that the drainage of the Shannon was one of the many matters which had been under his consideration in the short time that he had had the honour 229 to hold his present office. He regretted that he had not had time to devote sufficient attention to the subject in order to enable him to give the hon. and learned Member any very definite answer that day; but he was quite aware of its importance and of the injury inflicted on a large part of the country, which ought to be drained by that river, through inundations. It was, however, disputed to what cause those inundations were due, and how far they arose from the works of the Government in respect to the navigation of the Shannon; therefore he was anxious to make for himself a personal investigation into the matter, and he intended to take an early opportunity of visiting the spot, and of acquiring, he hoped, more distinct and definite information than he could do in any other way. If the result should be that he felt himself able to recommend the Government to introduce a Bill on the subject he would be very glad. He might mention that the late Government had directed proper Parliamentary Notices to be given in reference to the matter; but it was right to add that exceptional circumstances must be proved before a grant could fairly be asked from the Imperial Exchequer for operations, the cost of which ought ordinarily to be defrayed from local resources.