§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)On behalf of the hon. Member for Kerry, E. (Mr. JAMES ROCHE), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he Will cause inquiry to he made as to the causes of the recent destructive Hoods that have occurred in the Rivers Ahane and Maine, in the county of Kerry; and, whether, seeing that a very small expenditure of public money, in clearing the outlet of the Ahane River, will have the effect of preventing a recurrence of these floods, he Will direct the Board of Works to make such expenditure, for such purpose?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds CentralIt is a fact, I am informed, that floods have occurred in the rivers mentioned. These rivers are not within an arterial drainage district, and the Board of Works have no power to expend public money for the purpose suggested in the question. If the outlet of the Ahane River now requires clearing, the proper course to be adopted is for those in the locality, who are interested, to carry out a scheme of arterial drainage under the Drainage and Improvement of Land Act of 1863, and to obtain a loan from the Board of Works for the purpose.