MR. HENRY CAMPBELLasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it is the fact that the Postal Telegraph Department in the year 1879 erected a telegraph pole in the private yard of David M'Gaw, Enniskillen, without that gentleman's permission; whether a report, and, if so, to what effect, was made by the assistant engineer in reference to this pole; whether the wires are now cut away from the pole in question, leaving it, in the event of a storm, dangerous to life and property; whether notice has been given to the Postmaster General by M'Gaw that he requires possession of the ground occupied by the pole for building and sanitary purposes; whether the Postmaster General will cause this obstruction to be at once removed; and, whether he will give instructions that a fair amount of compensation be paid to M'Gaw as rent for the space upon which the pole now stands, 1377 and has stood during the past seven years?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. H. H. FOWLER)A telegraph, pole was erected in 1879 in a private yard belonging to David M'Gaw, of Enniskillen, and next to premises then rented from him by the postmaster for the post-office. The Inspector of Telegraphs, who put up the pole, has reported that it was erected with. Mr. M'Gaw's full consent. No claim for rent in respect of this pole was made by Mr. M'Gaw until 1883, when the postmaster, having moved the post-office to other premises, differences arose between him and Mr. M'Gaw, resulting in a lawsuit. Since the removal of the post-office the Postmaster General has repeatedly offered to remove the pole; but Mr. M'Gaw has persistently refused, and still refuses, to allow it to be removed, except on payment of an exorbitant compensation the wires have been removed, but the polo is belted into a wall.