§ SIR EDWARD REED (Cardiff)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the rock struck by H. M. S. Monarch about the year 1880, at the entrance of Malta Grand Harbour, was marked on the Chart of the time; whether the rock found on the measured mile outside Malta Harbour by H.M.S. Polyphemus, in 1886, was marked on the Chart of that period; whether the rocks above mentioned as well as that upon which the Sultan struck have been proved to be due to volcanic action or to defective surveys; and, whether any Chart of the Maltese Islands has been made since 1857?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONNo. The Monarch struck on a small head which had five feet less water on it than the chart showed. The Polyphemus, when at torpedo practice inside the line marked on the chart for running the measured mile, found less water on a bank running out from the land than marked on a chart. An examination is now being made of the depths in the vicinty of the rock on which the Sultan was stranded, with a view of ascertaining whether the conformation of the bottom has altered. The survey of the Maltese Islands generally was concluded in 1863, but occasional re surveys of portions—principally of the harbours—have been since made.
§ SIR W. LAWSONWill the noble Lord say whether there is any truth in the report in the Press that on the Charts belonging to some of the other Powers this wreck was marked?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONThere was a rumour that there was a Chart in the possession of the Admiral Superintendent at Malta, which had this rock marked on it. We telegraphed out to know if the information is true, and we learn that it is not true.