HC Deb 14 March 1879 vol 244 cc929-30

In reply to Mr. BOORD,

Mr. A. F. EGERTON

said, the report in The Times of his answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland (Mr. Gourley), in regard to the coaling of the transports, was not entirely accurate. It was given with greater accuracy in other papers. He did not say there were only 1,000 tons of coal at St. Vincent; but he did say that there were facilities for coaling vessels at the rate of 1,000 tons a-day. The case was briefly this—The Government had sent to St. Vincent some 7,500 tons to their own contractors, and besides that there was a supply in private hands and other firms of about 10,000 tons, so that there was no question of coal falling short at St. Vincent. Perhaps the House would like to hear the latest intelligence with regard to the sailing of the transports. He had just had placed in his hands a telegram which reached the Admiralty at 5 o'clock in the afternoon of that day, and which was despatched that morning. It was as follows:— The Manora left at 7.20 on the 3rd, and took 610 tons; the Paris at 1 o'clock a.m. on the 5th, taking 856 tons; the Florence, 9 p.m. on the 6th, taking 91 tons; the Margaret, 1 a.m. 7th, taking 388 tons; Olympus, 2 a.m., 7th, taking 366 tons; Venice, 3.50 p.m., 7th, taking 295 tons; China, 1 a.m., 9th, with 441 tons; Palmyra, 2.30 p.m., 9th, 188 tons; Russia, 11.15 p.m., 11th, 820 tons; England, noon, 12th, with 648 tons; Clyde, 2 a.m., 13th, no coals; France, taking 800 tons, sails this evening; Spain and Egypt, with 800 tons each, will sail on Sunday morning. Strong north-east winds have prevailed from the 2nd to the 14th. That he had no doubt was the cause, to a considerable extent, of the delay which had taken place.