§ MR. McCARTANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the suction dredger sent by the Board of Works to Donaghadee Harbour, in June, 1896, with the object of removing the silting there almost entirely failed in doing so; whether he is aware that at present from five to six feet depth of sand and loose stones now render the harbour very dangerous to vessels; whether he is aware that the Belfast Harbour Commissioners can with one of their ladder or bucket dredgers remove from the harbour and channel of Belfast about 12,000 tons of dredging per week, at the cost of about £100, notwithstanding that the stuff has to be taken away about seven miles from Belfast; and whether he will make inquiry with the view of having a ladder or bucket dredger sent to Donaghadee to remove the sand and stones which could easily be deposited within about half a mile of the harbour?
§ MR. HANBURYThe dredger was sent in 1896 as an experiment. In the course of trial about 5,000 tons of accumulation were removed, but it was found that the remaining material was not of a kind on which that dredger could be usefully employed. The Board of Works 99 are aware that there is a considerable accumulation of sand and stones in certain parts of the harbour, but they do not regard the harbour as at all dangerous for the class of vessels which make use of it. The Board have no particulars as to the dredging plant or the dredging operations of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, but they have now under consideration the expediency of further operations at Donaghadee, and in connection therewith they will pay regard to what is done at Belfast and elsewhere.