§ MR. McFADDENTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the county council of the county of Cork took over the making of the Ballinascarthy and Timoleague Light Railway in the year 1902, and have since the 31st December, 1902, declined to levy a rate to pay the shareholders the dividend on the 5 per cent, county guarantee of the company, and, if so, the reason of the refusal; whether any steps have been taken to prosecute the late secretary of the company for misappropriation of the sum of £500 drawn by him out of the company's funds in the Munster and Leinster Bank; and whether any proceedings were taken by the county council against the bank for the recovery of the said sum of £500.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) By Order of His Excellency the Lord-Lieu-tent of Ireland, dated 7th July, 1896, the Ballinascarthy and Timoleague Railway was vested in a committee of management of the county council. No application has been made by the county council for the Treasury recoupment of two per cent, on the dividend for the half-year ended 30th June, 1903. I am unable to give any further information.