§ MR. MCCARTANI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade with reference to the dredger sent to Donaghadee Harbour last year, whether he is aware that the failure to complete the 395 work of removing the stones and silting was because the wrong class of dredger was sent there; whether he is aware that Donaghadee is really the only harbour of refuge between Carlingford Lough and Belfast Lough on the east coast of Ireland, and that a number of vessels have sustained damage owing to the dangerous state of the harbour during the last few years; and, whether the Board of Trade will, under the circumstances, consider the desirability of sending the proper sort of dredger to Donaghadee without further delay, in order to remove the danger and to render the harbour a place of safety for vessels?
§ * MR. HANBURYHere, again, the hon. Member has confused the Board of Trade with the Irish Board of Works. The Board of Trade has nothing to do with dredging this harbour. As I explained in reply to a similar question only a week ago, the Board of Works Kingstown dredger removed 5,000 tons of spoil before she was withdrawn, but could not dredge the stones. To do this would cost about £1,500, and the utility of the harbourdoes not appear to justify so heavy an expenditure from public funds. In the comparatively short distance between Carlingford Lough and Belfast Lough I am advised that anchorage is to be obtained in numerous other sheltering bays, and there is also Ardglass Harbour. No strandings of vessels at Donaghadee have been reported during the last two years. In the three previous years, four small vessels, with tonnage varying from 33 to 94 tons, were reported as stranded, but only one case was serious and none were attended with loss of life; and as I said last week, the harbour is not in a dangerous state.