§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the large fissures which opened some time since in the sides of the Breakwater lately built at Bally-cotton, County Cork, are becoming gradually widened by the action of the sea; whether he is aware that the Grand Jury of the County Cork continue to decline the responsibility of taking over charge of this pier, owing to its imperfect and defective construction; and whether some arrangement could be made in order to save the outlay upon this costly work from being absolutely wasted?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTI am informed that the statement in the first paragraph is groundless, there having been no change since July, 1892, and only one crack having opened half-an-inch in a period of five years before that date. The work is, I understand, sound, and is already legally vested in the Grand Jury, who have no power to repudiate charge of it. No steps such as are hinted at in the last paragraph are called for.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANWill the pier be placed in proper repair before it is handed over?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTI must ask for notice of that question.