§ MR. D. KILBRIDE (Galway, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1), whether he will state at what price per pound the hair mattresses were contracted to be supplied to the new asylum at Purdysburn, Belfast; (2) whether any examination of the hair was made by any official from the Board of Control; and, if so, what report did he make as to the quality and value of the hair supplied; (3) whether he will state the particulars as to the contract; if tenders were invited by advertisement, and in what papers they were published; also, if any samples were produced; and whether the hair supplied was equal to the sample selected; and (4), what has been done in the matter?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe reply to the first paragraph is 9¾d. The mattresses were examined on behalf of the Board of Control by an official, who stated that the hair was not equal to sample, but did not state its value. Tenders were invited from five of the principal firms in Belfast, though not by advertisement. Samples of the hair required were given to each of these firms, and, as I have stated, the hair supplied by the contractor whose tender 1684 was accepted was not equal to sample. He is now furnishing other mattresses with hair equal to sample.