§ MR. H. C. RICHARDS (Finsbury, E.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will call the attention of the Irish Lights Commissioners to the fact that a steamer, the "William Bailey," has been wrecked near Rock Angus, at the entrance to the Strangford Lough; and whether he is aware that the light house erected thereon sixty years ago is still unprovided with any light or beacon, and is in a dangerous condition; and will he say whether he proposes to take any steps with regard to the constitution of the Irish Light Commission.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I have communicated with the Commissioners of Irish Lights, and am informed; by them that the steamer in question was stranded during hazy weather off Tara, which is two miles north of the entrance to Strangford Lough. It would appear that she was not, in fact, endeavouring to enter the Lough. The Commissioners had already informed me that the beacon tower on Rock Angus had never been lighted because it was found useless to vessels seeking shelter 796 without leading lights to guide past the dangers at the entrance of Strangford Lough and up to Audley and Cross Roads anchorages, but that they were not aware that the tower was in a dangerous condition. The reply to the final part of the Question is in the negative.