§ MR. BIGGARasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, What amount of money the Board of Works in Ireland have advanced on the Clare Slob Reclamation works, and to whom; who is now constructing the works; if it is a fact that, up to the present time, it has not been found possible to close the bank so as to exclude the tidal overflow; and, if the Board of Works are under any obligation to make further advances on 1135 the successful completion of the reclamation bank?
§ MR. COURTNEYSir, this work was at first undertaken by a Company, who contracted for its execution at a cost of £55,000, of which the Board of Works advanced £45,000 to the Company; but that sum proving to be quite inadequate, and the Company being unable to raise further funds, the Board and a gentleman who had lent money to the Company entered into possession as salvage creditors. A second contract was then made for £23,000, of which the Board advanced £15,000 to the contractor; but, owing to storms and unforeseen difficulties, this also proved inadequate, and a further sum of £12,000 was promised to be paid when the work was perfected. The original contractor is the person engaged in constructing the works, which are now far advanced, and which are expected to be, and should be, finished before next winter's storms. The total amount advanced by the Board has therefore been £60,000; and, in addition to that sum, there is £12,000 to be paid when the works are completed. It is believed that if a much larger sum were advanced than has been, the value of the reclaimed land will be quite sufficient to cover the advances made and promised.