§ CAPTAIN DONELANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury upon what grounds the Grand, Jury of County Cork decline to take over charge of Bally-cotton Pier; and whether he will state the nature of their communications to the Irish Board of Works upon this subject?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTThe ground alleged is the "defective state" of the pier. As I have before stated, the allegation is not admitted, and the Grand Jury have no power to repudiate charge of it.
§ MR. JACKSON (Leeds, N.)Has the right hon. Gentleman received any Report recently on the state of the pier?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTYes; last week.
§ MR. JACKSONWas it satisfactory?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTIt is reported that there is a slight crack which became apparent five years ago, but it is no worse now than then.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)How is it there is always a "slight crack" in the Board of Works piers?
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the right hon. Gentleman the Member for North Leeds (MR. Jackson) was Chief Secretary it was reported that the fissure had widened, and that an iron band was necessary?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTI am informed by the Board of Works that the fissure has not increased for five years. This is one of the matters a Home Rule Parliament can deal with.