§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he has recently received from the Mountmellick Board of Guardians a representation respecting the evil effects upon the sanitary condition of the towns of Portarlington and Mountmellick resulting from the floods in the river basin of the Barrow; and whether, inasmuch as the question of the drainage of the Barrow has been before successive Governments for the last 85 years, and all necessary surveys and levels have been made at the expense of the owners and occupiers of the flooded lands, he will cause the requisite notices to be issued during the autumn with a view to the re-introduction of the Bill of the last Conservative Government?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI have received a copy of the Resolution referred to. The question of the drainage of the Barrow has formed the subject of inquiry in 1885 and 1886 by two Commissions, who, however, differed in their recommendations. A Bill carrying out the recommendations of the Royal Commission of 1886 was introduced in Parliament in 1888, and again in the following year, but was withdrawn on each occasion because of the opposition it met with. There was also local opposition on the part of the Queen's County Grand Jury, who were in favour of the recommendations of the Commission of 1885. The difference of cost as between the estimates of the two Commissioners was approximately £200,000, and I am informed that several eminent engineers object to the method for the discharge of flood-water recommended by the Commission of 1886. Having regard to this 1451 and to the outlay involved, I am disposed to think that the matter requires some further investigation.
§ MR. A. O'CONNORasked the right hon. Gentleman whether, instead of comparing the relative merits of the two competing schemes, he would take the matter into his own personal consideration on its own merits, and whether he would be good enough to look at the Report of Sir Richard Griffith, which was in the Library of the House, with regard to the drainage of the Barrow in 1810 and 1811—a most perfect Report.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURsaid, he was quite willing to undertake the investigation suggested, but he was not sure that his opinion would be of the same nature as that of competent engineers.
§ MR. A. O'CONNORinquired whether, when competent engineers differed, the Government did not propose to do anything.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURsaid he did not exactly say that, but he thought such a fact made it necessary to consider every scheme.