§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention had been called to the resolution passed at a recent meeting of the Associated Chamber of Commerce in favour of placing Lighthouses and Coastguard Stations in electrical communication with the main telegraphic system of the country; whether in consideration of the fact that a vast amount of money value, and several hundred thousand persons passed Tory Island every year, he would endeavour to have this recommendation carried out with regard to it; and, whether the Government would take steps as soon as possible to complete a work of so important a national character?
§ *THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.The question of telegraphic communication between Lighthouse, Coastguard Stations, and Lifeboat Stations round the coast is, as I stated last Session, a matter for the consideration of the Post Office and the Admiralty, subject to the Treasury, rather than for the Board of Trade. With regard to Tory Island, I would refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Baronet the Member for Hythe on the 26th June last. The Bill therein referred to has now become law as Lloyd's Signal Stations Act, 1888, and I am informed by Lloyd's that the question of connecting Tory Island under its powers is still under consideration, and that they are in negotiation with the proprietor of the Island for land for a Signal Station.