§ COLONEL DENNY (Kilmarnock Burghs)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there have recently been a number of interruptions on the telephone circuit erected for life-saving purposes between Pad-stow and Hawker's Cove; and whether, seeing that Hawker's Cove is an important lifeboat station, he will take steps to improve the service.
§ THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Lord STANLEY,) Lancashire, WesthoughtonThe telephone line from Padstow to Hawker's Cove is regarded by the Admiralty as very necessary for life-saving purposes, as there are three lifeboats at Hawker's Cove, including the only steam lifeboat on the North Cornish coast. Colonel Prideaux-Brune, the owner of the land over which the line passes, insisted recently upon the removal of the wires, on account of the injury caused by them to his partridge shooting. A temporary cable on the ground had to be substituted for the wires, with the result, I regret to say, that interruptions have been frequent. I have been in communication with Colonel Prideaux-Brune, and have offered to pay a reasonable rent as compensation for any injury to the shooting; but I fear that, as he maintains his objections to the present route, it will be necessary to re-erect the line on another 143 route at a heavy cost to public funds. I am glad to say such extreme unreasonableness is rare—but difficulties are so continually put in the way of the Post Office when seeking to obtain wayleaves, that I am to-day bringing in a Bill which will give the Postmaster-General powers to deal with certain cases in which the present state of the law gives facilities for unreasonable obstruction.
§ COLONEL DENNYHow many brace of partridges have been killed?
§ LORD STANLEYAbout five, I think.