§ CAPTAIN E. C. PRETYMAN (Suffolk, Wood bridge)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he is aware that there is only 15 feet of water in the entrance to Harwich Harbour at low water ordinary spring tides; and, whether, in view of the great strategic and commercial importance of Harwich Harbour, and of the large sums recently spent in fortifying the entrance, he proposes to spend some portion of the money allotted by the Naval Works Bill for the deepening of harbours, upon the improvement of the entrance to Harwich?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. G. J. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover Squaresaid, according to the. last survey, a vessel when entering Harwich Harbour need not pass over less depth than 17 feet at low water Spring tides. This gives a depth at high water of 28 feet. It is not proposed to allot a portion of the money provided in the Naval Works Bill towards the improvement of Harwich Harbour. The deepening of the harbour has been urged upon me several times by civilians, but not by any naval authorities.