§ * MR. SOARES (Devonshire,) BarnstapleI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the circumstances connected with the wreck of the schooner "Goon-laze," in Bideford Bay, on the 5th instant, when the whole of the crew consisting of four men were drowned. Whether he is aware that one of the bodies of these men was found while still warm at 8.45 a.m., and that another body was found at 11 a.m. in a field 250 yards away from the edge of the cliff, the deceased man having evidently climbed the cliff and subsequently died of exposure. And, seeing that these bodies were both found within a quarter of a mile of the coastguard station at Peppercombe, whether he will order an inquiry into this matter, and also into the question as to whether the coastguard service at Peppercombe is sufficiently manned.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, ) Leeds, CentralYes, Sir, my attention has been called to the case to which the hon. Member refers, and I have ordered an inquiry to be held into the circumstances attending the wreck. With regard to the coastguard service at Peppercombe the Board of Trade will place themselves in communication with the Admiralty.