§ MR. McCARTAN (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, with reference to the Royal visit to Ireland in 1897, (1) whether he is aware that it had been arranged that the Royal party should embark from Lame for Scotland on board the yacht Victoria and Albert, but that at the last moment the commander said it was impossible to take the yacht into Lame Harbour; (2) whether he is aware that there were neither mines nor obstructions of any kind in Larne Harbour at the time, that for a considerable period Larne was a port of calling for the large Transatlantic steamers of the State Line, and that one of the largest steamers ever built by the eminent firm of Messrs. Harland and Wolff had entered Larne Harbour on her trial trip; and (3) whether the Admiralty authorities have since made any inspection of the harbour to test the statement of the commander?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. W. E. MACARTNEY,) Antrim, S.With reference to the two first paragraphs of the Question, I must refer the honourable Member to my answer to the honourable and gallant Member for East Antrim on March last. My answer to the third paragraph is in the negative.