§ COLONEL WARING (Down, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a Memorial was forwarded on 18th January, 1889, to the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, signed by Mr. De La Chervis, D.L., J.P., the Lord of the Manor, and 103 other persons, representing that the present state of the Harbour of Donaghadee, County Down, is rendered dangerous to vessels entering it; whether he is aware that, if not actually dangerous, this harbour is at least inaccessable to deeply-laden coasting craft in consequence of the extent to which it is now silted up; whether he will take steps to have such dredging or other works done as will render it effective for the purposes for which it was originally constructed; and whether he has, since 30th July, 1889, when a question was asked on the subject, had any inspection 868 made of this harbour; and, if not, whether he will now order a thorough investigation into the matter?
§ MR. JACKSONThe statement contained in the first paragraph of the question is correct. I had hoped to visit Donaghadee Harbour when I was in Ireland in the autumn in company with the Chairman of the Board of Works, but the time at my disposal did not allow me to do so. I have instructed the Board of Works to prepare a Report as to the state of the harbour.