§ COLONEL WARING (Down, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that on the night of the 18th of November, 1893, the buoy on the Briggs Reef, in Belfast Lough, was driven by a north-easterly gale a considerable distance inshore of its proper position; whether this was notified to the Board of Irish Lights early on the morning of the 20th, in order that temporary measures might be taken to warn passing vessels of the danger; whether he is aware that no steps of the kind 571 were taken, and that, misled by the misplaced buoy, the Betsy ketch, on the afternoon of 21st November, struck upon the wreck of the Emily steamer (which was lost on this shoal in 1884), the crew escaping with great difficulty in their own boat; whether he is aware that the attention of the Irish Lights Board has been repeatedly called to the danger to which vessels navigating Belfast Lough, and more especially the fishermen of Bangor and Groomsport, and the lifeboat stationed at the latter place, are exposed by the existence of this iron wreck; whether, although the cost of its removal would be very small, they have hitherto refused to take any steps for that purpose; whether, as the owner of the Betsy is a poor man, wholly dependent on the earnings of his vessel, which was uninsured, and was lost through the negligence of this body, anything can be done to compensate him; and whether, in view of these circumstances, the Government will take steps to place upon the Board of Irish Lights some representatives of the shipping interest of the Port of Belfast, who will have regard to the safety of the lives and property of those navigating the Lough?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI have received from the Commissioners of Irish Lights the following statement:—
The buoy marking the Briggs Reef was reported to the Commissioners as being out of position, and when the weather permitted a steamer was sent to replace it. On the 24th November the commander of the Commissioners' steamer examined the position of the buoy, and found that the buoy had not drifted but simply stretched its mooring chain to the full length during the gale. The coastguard having reported the buoy as out of position, the Commissioners assumed it to be true and issued a cautionary 'notice to mariners,' and informed the Belfast Harbour Board; these steps were taken immediately the Report was received, and the Commissioners cannot admit that there was any delay, nor can they recognise any liability. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has, on a former occasion, represented to the Commissioners of Irish Lights that the wreck of the Emily on the Briggs Reef constituted a danger to the Groomsport Lifeboat; but the Commissioners were unable to acquiesce in the views of the Lifeboat Institution, and therefore have not advised that that wreck should be removed at the expense of the Mercantile Marine Fund. The Commissioners have received no other representations, nor is the wreck in navigable waters.I notice that a Bill has already been introduced by several hon. Members to amend the constitution of the Board of 572 Irish Lights, and until I see that Bill in print I am unable to say anything with regard to it.
§ COLONEL WARINGCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the fact that the Betsy was outside Briggs buoy at the time she struck is consistent with the statement of the Irish Lights Board?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI have read the statement given me by the Commissioners.
§ COLONEL WARINGBut is not that statement inconsistent with the fact I have mentioned?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI can add nothing to the answer.
§ COLONEL WARINGYes, but this unfortunate man has lost his property——
* MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Are we to understand that the Commissioners of Irish Lights gave notice to mariners that the buoy was out of position before they had ascertained whether that was so, and at a time indeed when it was not so?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThey gave the notice in consequence of the Report of the coastguard. As soon as possible they sent their steamer to it, and found that the buoy had not drifted, but had simply stretched its mooring chain to the utmost limit.
§ MR. W. FIELDWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the recommendations made to the Board of Trade by the Chambers of Commerce on the subject of re-constituting the Irish Lights Board?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe whole question of the position of the Irish Lights Commission is under the consideration of the Chief Secretary and myself.
§ MR. WOLFF (Belfast, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the resolutions passed by the Associated Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom, and of various Irish local Chambers of Commerce, with regard to the present unrepresentative constitution of the Board of Commissioners of Irish Lights, and urging the desirability of a reform of it; and whether the Government have any intention of introducing a Bill to reform this Board; and, if not, whether they 573 will give facilities to private Members to bring in such a Bill?
MR. J. MORLEY. I agree that the present constitution of the Board cannot be regarded as satisfactory. In saying that, however, I must not be taken as denying that there are many gentlemen on the Board who attend to the matters before them with great interest, great intelligence, and with administrative ability. I do not know that I shall be able to introduce a Bill at present, but the subject is receiving the attention of the Department concerned.
§ MR. WOLFFWill the Government give any facilities to a Private Bill dealing with the constitution of the Board?
§ MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)One of my hon. Friends has given notice of a Bill, and as the Irish Members are practically unanimous on the subject, I hope the Bill will receive favourable consideration from the Government.
§ MR. WOLFFAs it is not likely a Bill will be passed in a short time, can nothing be done to compel the Board to attend to duties which are now-neglected?