§ MR. HOOPER(for Mr. MAURICE HEALY) (Cork)asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been called to the Correspondence between the Cork Harbour Commissioners and the Commissioners of Irish Lights, and subsequently between the Cork Harbour Commissioners and the Board of Trade, with reference to the necessity for an additional buoy for the better marking of Daunt's Rock; whether the Cork harbour-masters have reported that a second buoy is necessary north-west of the rock, not for the requirements of local trade, which approaches Cork Harbour almost entirely from the eastward, but for the protection of the general oversea trade; and that at least one-half of the oversea sailing vessels approaching Cork Harbour do so by day to the westward of the rock, this course being much more convenient in certain winds; whether a sum of about £6,500 is collected annually in light dues through the collector of Customs at Cork; whether Daunt's Rock being outside their jurisdiction, the Harbour Board are unable to apply their own funds for the purpose in question; whether the Irish Lights Commissioners have refused to erect a second buoy; and, whether, under the circumstances, the Board of Trade propose to take any steps to protect the oversea trade of the port by requiring that the suggestions of the harbour masters shall be carried into effect?
§ THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)The Commissioners of Irish Lights, who are the General Lighthouse Authority in Ireland, have considered with care the representations of the Cork Harbour Commissioners in favour of an additional buoy in the vicinity of Daunt's Rock. They are of opinion that, as this second buoy would be purely for the advantage of the local trade, they would not be justified in recommending that any expense in respect of it should be borne by the Mercantile Marine Fund. The Board of Trade do not propose to interfere with this decision of the Irish Lighthouse Board, and have no power to 699 initiate new sea marks. Their function is to control expenditure.