HC Deb 25 July 1893 vol 15 cc482-3
MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, as reported in The People's Journal of Saturday, 22nd July, of a meeting of the Ross and Cromarty County Council, held at Dingwall on Wednesday the 19th instant, at which it was stated that Lady Matheson, of Stornoway Castle, proprietor of the Island of Lewis, with its population of 28,500, refused to give the necessary guarantee in regard to the sum required, in addition to the Government grant, for the construction of piers and boatslips in the island, and that, in consequence of the chronic poverty of the inhabitants, it was useless to expect a guarantee from them, the meeting resolved to draw the attention of the Government to the case as being worthy of special consideration; and whether the Government will pro- vide the necessary funds to enable the work to be carried out before winter?

SIR W. HARCOURT

I have seen no account of the meeting referred to.

MR. WEIR

Then I will send the right hon. Gentleman a copy of the report.