§ MR. R. McGHEE (Louth, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state how many days of trial were given to the suction dredger of the Board of Works at Donaghadee 1465 Harbour in June last; whether lie is aware that the suction dredger was a failure there, and that it was removed after having broken down twice; and whether, considering the present dangerous state of the harbour at Donaghadee, he will ask the Board of Works to send down to that harbour a different kind of dredger to complete the work commenced last year of removing the silting stones, etc.?
§ MR. RITCHIE (for Mr. HANBURY)My right hon. Friend desires me to say that he has just heard by telegram that the kingstown dredger was sent experimentally to Donaghadee and worked there for nineteen days, during which she removed 5,000 tons of spoil The material, however, was found to be unsuitable to her class, and she was brought back. The pump broke down once soon after her arrival in Donaghadee, and stopped her for a week. The harbour is not in a dangerous state, though to restore it to the level of 1863 a large amount of dredging, consisting largely of stones, would have to be done at a very heavy cost, probably £1,500. The Board of Works are not satisfied that the trade of the harbour would justify them in recommending such an expenditure.