§ MR. P. A. M'HUGHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether the Congested Districts Board has recently launched a new steam yacht at a cost of £10,000 for cruising about the west coast of Ireland; what was the sum allowed by the Treasury for a steam cruiser for the west coast of Scotland; and what is the value of the fish caught on these coasts respectively; has he observed the statement in the Board's Reports that the cost of administration of their income of £45,000 a year amounts to close on £9,000 a year; and would he state what is the amount given 15 by the Treasury for defraying the salaries of secretary, assistant secretary, and staff of clerks, and how many of the latter are there; will he furnish a Return of the items of administration as passed by the Auditor General, and especially of the sum of £1,367 5s. 5d. for an expenditure of £1,589 10s. in connection with the Irish Reproductive Loan Fund, and of £768 13s. 4d. for an expenditure of £957 10s. 4d. for piers, roads, bridges, &c.; is it intended to allow the expenditure of £9,000 a year of the Board's income being spent on a stud farm in County Wicklow; is it the case that the Board has given £600 for the improvement of the town of Donegal, which is not in a congested area; and will he state the terms of the contracts which have been entered into for the approaches and ironwork of the viaduct over the Gweebara Estuary in County Donegal; and, are cheques signed by members of the Board, and how are powers of surcharge exercised by the Auditor General?
MR. J. MORLEYI would ask the hon. Gentleman to postpone this question until after the next meeting of the Congested Districts Board to be held on the 15th March.