MR. T. B. CURRANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the agreement with the Lough Swilly Company relating to the Carndonagh Railway provides for the advance of money for the purchase of land and other purposes immediately on the grant of the Order in Council; and if he will consult the Law Officers of the Crown in Ireland as to whether, under the circumstances which have arisen, such an advance could now be made?
§ MR. HANBURYArticle 6 of the agreement empowers the Treasury, on the Order in Council being obtained, to make advances to the company, up to the limit of £40,000, to meet the expenses incurred in the earlier stages of the undertaking. But the agreement also contemplates that these expenses shall be included in the contract for which tenders are to be obtained by public competition. Until a satisfactory tender has been obtained the Treasury do not feel justified in incurring any expenditure, for purchase of land or otherwise, which can possibly be avoided. The Treasury are the sole judges of the construction and effect of the agreement, and I see no occasion to consult the Law Officers.