§ MR. MORGAN LLOYDasked the President of the Board of Trade, respecting the Mail Jetty, made of timber, at Holyhead, What was the cost of the Mail Jetty erected in the year 1858; what amount has been spent in the alteration and repairing of the same up to the present time; what is the estimate for the alterations and repairs of the same now going on; is the condition of the Jetty such as would justify the Government in spending a large sum in alterations and repairs; and, taking into consideration the present condition of the Jetty, and the large amount spent annually in repairs, would it not be better economy to erect a stone pier in place of the present Jetty?
§ MR. GRAYBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers the Question, I would ask, Whether it is not a fact that the original scheme submitted to the Government twenty years ago provided for a stone pier?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINI cannot answer the Question of the hon. Member for Carlow (Mr. Gray) positively; but if he will put it on the Paper I will endeavour to do so. As to the first Question, the first cost of the timber mail jetty at Holyhead and its extension was, from 1858 to 1864, £48,226; since that time £26,985 has been spent in repair and renewal. The estimate of the work for raising the platform, required by the Post Office in connection with the recent mail contract, is £7,000; 91 this is special and not ordinary work. The annual expenditure for renewals for some years past has been about £2,000, and appears, so far, to be maintaining the work in fair condition. As to a stone pier being more economical, I have no proposal for a stone pier before me, and the question of comparative expense would be for the consideration of the Treasury. I may, however, mention that Sir John Hawk-shaw tells me that such a work could not cost less than £150,000.