MR. FIELDI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state under what statutory or other authority the Board of Trade have allowed the expenses incurred by the Irish Board of Lights in defending Harrison's case, in which they were condemned in damages and costs; and whether the Board of Trade have had submitted to them any full account of such expenses?
§ MR. RITCHIEThe Board of Trade are advised that the costs incurred by the Commissioners of Irish Lights in defending Harrison's case are properly payable, under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, out of the Mercantile Marine Fund, as expenses incurred by the General Lighthouse Authority. The Board of Trade have sanctioned the payment of part of these expenses, but they have not yet received details of the final account.