§ MR. MACALEESE (Monaghan N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Local Government Board exercise any supervision, and, if so, to what extent, over the administration of the respective trusts of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners and Belfast Water Commissioners, the first of which is an important toll levying body, and the second is empowered to levy a large sum annually by way of water rates.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURThe Local Government Board exercise no jurisdiction over the financial business of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, their accounts being audited by a firm of accountants. Under the Belfast Water 423 Act, 1897, the accounts of the Belfast City and District Water Commissioners are subject to audit by the Local Government Board since the 1st November, 1897, and an annual return is required to be made to the Board in relation to the sinking fund which the Commissioners are obliged to maintain for the discharge of their debts.