§ MR. M. McCARTANI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware of the complaints of mariners trading to Belfast Lough as to the insufficiency of the sound of the fog horn on Mew Island, off Donaghadee; whether he is aware that on numerous occasions the captains of the cross-channel steamers sailing to Belfast have found their steamers within a short distance, of the breakers on the rocks before they even heard the sound of the horn; and, whether, considering the enormous passenger and goods traffic with Belfast, he will make inquiry for the purpose of having sufficient warning given to the mariners to enable them to avoid the danger?
§ MR. BRYCEThe Board of Trade, in March last, sanctioned the expenditure by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, of the sum necessary for the purpose of carrying out an experiment for the improvement of Mew Island Fog Signal. I regret to learn from the Commissioners that this experiment has not yet been carried out.
§ MR. A. F. JEFFREYS (Hants, Basingstoke)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, what is the, latest time within which complaints in respect of rates increased prior to the passing of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1894, must be deposited with the Board of Trade to enable the complainants to 842 recover damages for any unreasonable increase?
§ MR. BRYCEComplaints must be lodged at the Board of Trade within "six months after the passing" of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1894. That Act came into force on August 25 last year, and the 24th instant being a Sunday, the Board of Trade recommend persons desirous of making complaints to file them at the Board of Trade not later than Saturday, the 23rd instant.