HC Deb 19 March 1897 vol 47 c1032
CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether any tender has yet been accepted for the construction of the new custom house at Queenstown?

MR. HANBURY

Owing to the unsettled condition of the local labour market, no tender could be obtained last July from any local contractor, and only one was obtained from a distance, and that at about double the estimate. In September tenders were again invited, and after some negotiation the lowest tender, that of a local man, has now been sufficiently modified to justify its acceptance, and I have arranged with the Board of Works accordingly. Though some alteration has been made in the plans, it will entail a considerable excess over the original estimate.