§ SIR EDWAED WATKIN (Hythe)asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether it is intended to connect the lighthouse on Tory Island, off the north-west coast of Ireland, with the mainland telegraph system, by a short cable and length of land lines; whether the cost of doing such a work would be a few thousand pounds only; whether the necessity of doing this, in protection of human life, and in aid of shipping—especially of the emigrant traffic—has over and over again been influentially represented to every Government Department concerned, and, so far, in vaia; and, whether it is the fact that H.M.S. Wasp was wrecked off Tory Island and lost, in the absence of assistance, while a Government vessel, commanded by Captain Gallwey, was at the time in Belfast Lough, and did not go out to help for want of information?
§ THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)I fully recognize the great importance of the question raised by the hon. Baronet. I would point out that a Committee, appointed by the President of the Board of Trade, and of which the Earl of Crawford is Chairman, is now inquiring into the subject of electrical communication between light vessels and out- 348 lying lighthouses and the mainland; and I have no doubt that the case of Tory Island, with that of other lighthouses, will be fully considered by the Committee