§ MR. CHARLES M'ARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange)To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will say whether the Irish Lights Commissioners' steam yacht "Princess Alexandra, "which recently stranded on the Hellyhunter Rock, was at the time in charge of an officer holding a Board of Trade certificate; and, if so, of what grade, and what was his rank on board the vessel; what is the actual or estimated cost of repairing the damage sustained; whether the bell buoy and the automatic whistling buoy near the spot were in working order at the time; and whether it is intended to hold a Board of Trade inquiry as to the cause of the casualty.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I am informed by the Commissioners of Irish Lights that the "Princess Alexandra" was not stranded on the Hellyhunter Rock, but while approaching some wreckage in the vicinity of that rock she was damaged by striking some obstacle. The vessel was at the time in charge of the chief officer, who holds a Board of Trade master's certificate for home trade. The cost of repair of the damage is estimated at £150. It is not intended that any formal inquiry should be held as to the cause of the casualty.