§ MR. M'GOVERN (Cavan, W.)I beg-to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the railway from Belturbet to Ballyhaise is a separate railway or part of the Great Northern Railway of Ireland; is he aware that the Grand Jury of the county of Cavan, before this railway was constructed, gave a guarantee of 1 per cent, to the Great Northern Railway Company on the cost of construction; and, seeing that the ratepayers of the barony of Lower Loughtee are still paying this guarantee, although the Great Northern Railway Company is paying a dividend of 6¾ per cent, to its shareholders, will the Board of Trade hold an inquiry as to the right of this company being paid this guarantee any longer.
§ MR. WYNDHAMAt my right hon. friend's request I will reply to this question. The railway is part of the Great Northern system. The barony docs not guarantee 4 per cent, on cost of construction, but only £340 towards any deficiency there may be in any one year after charging the accounts of the branch line with 4 per cent, interest on £30,000, the estimated capital and cost of working. For the year ended June. 1900, the receipts fell short of providing the working expenses and interest to the extent of £1,480, towards which the barony contributed £340. leaving a net loss to the Great Northern Company of £1,140.