MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether the Irish Board of Works employed an engineer from London to hold engineering inquires in Ireland under the Tramways (Ireland) Acts, thereby, putting promoters to extra expense; (2) whether this extra expense is to be borne by the Board of Works or the companies promoting railways or tramways; (3) whether these inquiries were efficiently carried out heretofore by engineers practising in Ireland, and was there any valid reason for departing from that practice in 201 favour of gentlemen practising in England; and (4) whether, when responsible offices in Ireland are vacant requiring engineering skill, he will, if possible, appoint Irish engineers.
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLASAn engineer—who is an Irishman and who was engineer to the Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland—who has had many years' experience in Ireland, and who now practices in both Ireland and England, has lately held inquiries for the Board of Works under the Tramways Act, but this has not caused the promoters any extra expense, as, in the case mentioned, the charges have been made as from Dublin. The Board of Works state that there has been no departure from previous practice in the present instance. The Question contained in the last paragraph is too general to allow any pledge to be given off-hand.