§ MR. MACNEILLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that one of the principle industries in the district of Mount Charles, County Donegal, is the quarrying and exportation of the Mount Charles freestone, a work which gives employment to labourers and small farmers; whether he is aware that the quarries are two statute miles from Mount Charles (Salthill) pier, and a 1316 little more than one mile from the railway station, and that between the quarries and the pier and railway station there are steep hills, the result being that horses are only able to carry a little over half an ordinary load to the places of exportation; and whether, having regard to the increase in the cost of transportation of stones thus carried, and to the fact that special orders could not be executed, as stones over a certain weight could not be drawn over the Glencough Braes, he would consider the propriety of instituting public works for cutting through these hills, which would give employment for relief of the distress in this neighbourhood?
*MR. JOHN MORLEYI am informed that the facts are generally as stated in the question, and that at Presentment Sessions held at Mount Charles on the 9th instant a presentment was passed for the cutting one of the worst hills. With regard to the suggestion that the Government should undertake the cutting of these hills as relief works, the Local Government Board state that no representations have been made to them as to the existence of distress in the locality such as to justify the opening of such works, and the Board's Inspector is of opinion, that no such works are required in this district at present, I have directed the inspector to make further inquiry and to report to me at an early date on this point.