§ MR. LANE (Cork Co., E.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he has seen a letter, which appeared in the Cork daily papers of Tuesday, November 13, written by the Rev. M. P. Norris, of Ballycotton, in which the reverend gentleman describes the effects of the late gale on the Ballycotton New Pier, and the present ruined condition of the sea wall and other works; whether he will instruct Mr. Wolfe Barry to inquire into these allegations before presenting his Report to the Treasury; and, whether he will give instructions to the Irish Board of Works to have such repairs immediately executed as will insure the safety of this pier, for which £20,500 has been just paid to the contractor, on the certificate of Mr. Manning, their chief engineer, and which the Grand Jury of the County of Cork have refused to take over from the Board of Works?
§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)also asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether Mr. Wolfe Barry has yet made 1380 his Report on the condition of the Ballycotton Pier; whether it is a fact that, in consequence of the recent gales, a portion of the pier head was blown away, that the old fissures have been widened, and that 11 new cracks have appeared in wharf pavement after the storm of the 6th instant; whether it is true that on the 20th ultimo a large fishing boat was driven ashore upon the remains of the old pier, not 100 yards from the harbour's entrance, and was with difficulty saved by the prompt and energetic action of Mr. Steel and the coastguards; and, whether any immediate repairs will be carried out to prevent further damage and collapse; and, if so, who is to carry out and be responsible for the necessary repairs?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)in reply, said, that the hon. Member for East Cork had forwarded to him a copy of The Cork Examiner containing the letter from the Rev. M. P. Morris, referred to in the hon. Member's Question. The information which reached him from Ireland did not confirm the somewhat exaggerated and alarmist statements which appeared in the letter. In a telegram he received from Ireland this morning it was said there had been no serious damage done to the pier. He had, however, sent the papers to Mr. Wolfe Barry, and asked him to look into the matter.
§ MR. LANEasked, whether, in the event of damage having been done, the Board of Works would execute the necessary repairs?
§ MR. JACKSONsaid, the hon. Member would see that if his (Mr. Jackson's) information was correct—namely, that there had been no serious damage done, there was no serious damage to repair.
§ MR. LANEasked, whether, if Mr. Wolfe Barry reported that the pier had been seriously injured, the hon. Gentleman would give instructions to the Board of Works to execute any necessary repairs which the circumstances required?
§ MR. JACKSONsaid that the hon. Gentleman must see it would be extremely improper for him to give any answer pledging the Government to a course until they had seen the Report of Mr. Wolfe Barry. When the Report was received it would be the duty of the Government to consider it and decide what action, if any, should be taken upon it.