§ MR. M. McCARTANI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the master mariners sailing to and from Belfast still complain of the inefficiency of the siren on Mew Island at the entrance to Belfast Lough; and that in foggy weather the steamers are frequently in dangerous proximity to the Island before the sound of the siren is audible, and whether the Commissioners of Irish Lights will state what was the result of their experiments with reference to Mew Island, and if they have since done anything to improve the danger warning; if not, what changes do they propose to make for the safety of the lives of passengers and seamen coming to and from Belfast?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine's, replying in the abscence of Mr. Ritchie: Since the reply given on the 19th August last to a question on this subject by the hon. Member, the Board of Trade have received no representations on this matter. In that reply, the President of the Board of Trade stated that, as the result of the experiments referred to, the Commissioners of Irish Lights had recommended the establishment of a second fog siren at Mew Island, and that this recommendation had been approved by the Trinity House and sanctioned by the Board of Trade. The Commissioners of Irish Lights state that the new siren has been ordered, and may be expected to be in operation within three months.