COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that there were large floods above Meelick Lock on the 16th of May, caused by the Meelick sluices not being raised in time, that the water continued rising until the 19th of May, the floods having risen to within 18 inches of the greatest height in winter, when the sluices were raised; whether the sluices were up on the 4th of June, when the Shannon was very full; and whether he can take any steps to secure that these sluices shall be raised in future in time to prevent floods?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) OldhamI am informed that there was a heavy and sudden flood for the time of year on the 16th of May. On that date all the sluices in the New Cut and at Meelick were fully open. They had been opened gradually for two days before. The water, however, only rose to four inches over summer level, and fell on the 17th to two inches over summer level. On the 19th the water rose to six inches over summer level for one day, all the sluices being open during all this time. On the 22nd the water was again at summer level, and it was at this level or below it until 3rd June, when it rose two inches 1212 and fell again on the 4th. The sluices were not all open on the 4th, but sufficiently to pass the flood. Every care will be taken with the object of preventing floods.