§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If it is true that the barque Cartwell, of Glasgow, became a total wreck on the Cork Harbour Rock on the night of the 18th March 1886; whether the rock is about a quarter of a mile from Roches Point; whether a portion of the crew of the Cartwell were rescued by the coastguards from Roches Point, and whether the delay entailed by their having to drag their boat over a rough rocky beach, there being no boatslip or pier, made 1658 them nearly too late to save the lives of the shipwrecked sailors; whether Roches Point is largely made use of by pilots, watermen, and fishermen, who complain constantly of the want of a pier or suitable landing place, and whether the Admiralty will confer with the Board of Works, and assist in promoting the construction of a pier, a boat harbour, or a boatslip; whether he is aware that fifty-seven inhabitants of the coastguard station are without any fresh water in summer except such as can be gathered in wet weather from the roofs of the houses; whether the Admiralty will endeavour to provide a remedy for this want; and, whether a Report from the official sanitary officer dealing with the subject can be supplied to this House?
THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. R. W. DUFF)(who replied) (Banffshire)The circumstances of the case are very much as stated by the hon. Member for Cork. A portion of the crew of the barque Cartwell were rescued by the Coastguard from Roche's Point, which is rather more than a quarter of a mile from Cork Harbour Rock. They were only just in time, as the boat with the shipwrecked men was drifting out to sea in a thick fog. Roche's Point is largely made use of by pilot and sailing boats. No complaint has been made of the want of a pier or suitable landing place, though no doubt such a structure would be of general service. With regard to the water supply, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on March 25 last.