§ MR. DALYI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he can state if the Commissioners of Irish Lights when inviting coal tenders this year confined the competition to Whitehaven coal only; and, whether he will direct the Commissioners of Irish Lights in future, when inviting tenders for coal, to make the race open to all collieries that produce good house coal?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonI am informed by the Commissioners of Irish Lights that tenders were invited by them for Whitehaven coal only, because they consider that that coal is most suitable for the special purposes for which it is required. The Board of Trade cannot interfere with the discretion of the Lighthouse authority in making a selection as to the coal best suited for their purposes.