§ SIR EDWARD WATKINI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has seen an article in the Northern Whig newspaper from its London correspondent, calling attention to the want of progress in the proposed connection by cable of the lighthouse and signal station on Tory Island with the land telegraphs of Ireland, and ask- 1817 ing whether the Government are waiting for another shipwreck like that of H.M.S. Wasp before doing this very inexpensive but most necessary work; and what is the real position of the matter?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.I have not seen the article to which the hon. Baronet refers, which must have been written under some misconception of the duty of the Government in the matter. I understand from Lloyd's that they have been in negotiation with the proprietor of Tory Island for the land they require for a signal station, but so far without success. It is probable that Lloyd's may proceed under Lloyd's Signal Stations Act of last Session, unless they can come to terms with the proprietor of the Island.
§ MR. MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)Am I to understand that, notwithstanding the wreck of the Wasp, no steps have been taken to rectify a danger of this kind?
§ SIR M. HICKS-BEACHThat is no fault of mine.