DR. CAMERONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a lecture delivered before the Royal Dublin Society, on the 15th instant, by Mr. John R. Wigham, on the subject of lighthouse illumination, in which he exhibits a new lighthouse burner which he had invented, alleged to have twice the power of the most powerful lighthouse burner tested by the Trinity House at the South Foreland, and also described a new lenticular apparatus alleged to have three times the power of the hyperradiant lens tested at the South Foreland, and to give, when used with the new burner, six times the light of the most powerful existing lighthouse light; and whether he will direct that this new light be tested against the most powerful form of electric light with its most recent improvements with the view of ascertaining their relative efficiency in fog?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHMy attention has not been called to Mr. Wigham's recent lecture respecting his inventions. The hon. Member is aware that it is not the province of the Board of Trade to take the initiative in these matters, and I have had no application for a renewal of experiments from any of the General Lighthouse Authorities who would appear satisfied with the able and exhaustive Report which a Committee of the Royal Society recently made on the subject of lighthouse illuminants, and which has been presented to Parliament.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)I assume that no final action will be taken in a matter of this importance until the House has had an opportunity of expressing an opinion.
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHNo action is required.