§ SIR JOHN LENG (Dundee)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he can state whether telegraphic communication with Fastnet lighthouse at present exists, also on how many occasions it was interrupted before being abandoned by the Committee of Lloyds, and has been since it was undertaken by the Postmaster General for the Board of Trade. What amount of money has been expended thus far on the attempts to establish communication with the Fastnet. And, whether in any instance shipwreck has been prevented or life saved by such communication from this lighthouse?
§ MR. HANBURYTelegraphic communication with the Fastnet Lighthouse is at present interrupted. The Postmaster General understands that the first cable was interrupted on six occasions before the service was abandoned. There has been only one short break in the communication under the present system previous to the interruption which now exists. The Postmaster General is not in possession of information as to the total amount of money expended thus far on the attempts to obtain electrical communication with the Fastnet; but 1326 he would refer the hon. Member to the Reports of the Royal Commission on Electrical Communication with Lighthouses and Light Vessels, in the last of which, dated the 12th May, much interesting information is given in regard to the communication with the Fastnet. The Irish Light Commissioners state that there is no record of the Fastnet telegraph being called into use with a view to averting shipwreck or loss of life.