§ * MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any explanation is forthcoming for the neglect of the Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) and the Belfast and Co. Down Railway Company to begin the construction of the connecting line between Ballyroney and Newcastle, for which they received statutory powers in 1900; and, whether he is prepared to undertake that, failing the making of the line within the time specified any application for extension of the statutory powers for its construction will be,opposed by the Government.
§ MR. ATKINSONI am informed that the Great Northern Railway Company are negotiating for the purchase of lands and taking all necessary steps to proceed with the making of the line from Ballyroney to Castle-Wellan. The remainder of the line is, I understand, to be constructed by the Belfast and County Down Railway Company. The Government cannot give any undertaking such as that indicated in the second part of the Question.