§ MR. CHILDERSasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether it is the case that the ship "Annie Richmond" was recently lost in consequence of total and wilful disregard of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Spontaneous Combustion of Coal in Ships which have been adopted by the Board of Trade; and, if he will lay upon the Table the Correspondence on this subject with the Committee of Lloyd's?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONSir, I am sorry to say that it appears from the Report of the Court of Inquiry that the Annie Richmond was lost through the wilful disregard referred to. I may add that the Board of Trade have done all in their power to make known the recommendations of the Royal Commission, and have adopted them, so far as securing the record of the quantity and quality of the coal shipped, and procuring information in case of inquiry by examining the Inspectors of Mines of the district in which the coal is dug up. As for the other important recommendations of the Commissioners—namely, the necessity for ascertaining the temperature of the cargo on board, and for 491 providing surface ventilation—we have made them known as widely as possible by placard, advertisement, and otherwise, and they have also been insisted on by the Council of the Board of Trade in cases of inquiry. I shall be glad to present the Correspondence asked for, and trust it will receive the most serious attention of shippers, carriers, and insurers of coal cargoes.