§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the Treasury has yet arrived at any decision with regard to the recommendations of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the drainage of the basin of the Barrow in Ireland?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)I am informed that the Report to which the hon. Member refers was addressed to the Lord Lieutenant, by whom the Commission was appointed, and no communication on the subject has been received from him at the Treasury.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)inquired whether the Barrow was included in the improvements intended by the Government to be made in the arterial drainage of Ireland, as indicated in the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL) (Paddington, S.)said, he specifically mentioned the Shannon, Bann, and Barrow.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORinquired, whether, as the Barrow had just been imported upon by a Royal Commission, it was still the intention of the Government to refer that river again to a Royal Commission?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)The question is, whether the work should be carried out by local resources? That is a very important matter, and has not yet been settled.
§ MR. W. J. CORBET (Wicklow, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the proposed drainage of the River Barrow, Whether any new scheme has been laid before Government; and, whether any decision has been arrived at in reference thereto, with a view to carrying it out?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.), in reply, said, no definite scheme had been submitted to the Government; but Mr. Stripe, C.E., had forwarded copies of a Circular issued by him to persons interested.