§ MR. JOSEPH DEVLINI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a meeting of the ratepayers of Greencastle, held on Monday, May 1st, 1905, to protest against the manner in which the residents in that district had been treated by the Belfast Corporation in regard to the questions of sewerage and tramway extension; whether he is aware that the sanitary condition of the district, owing, to imperfect drainage, constituted a constant danger to the public health; that a drainage scheme had been submitted to the Local Government Board, which had refused to grant borrowing powers until land for a pumping station had been acquired, and which also alleged that the proper formalities for a loan had not been complied with; whether any attempt had been made recently by the Belfast Corporation to comply with the requirements of the. Local Government Board; and, if not, whether he will take steps to compel the corporation to have the matter dealt with without further delay.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe Board. have already held an inquiry into an application for a loan for drainage works in this district, and are prepared to sanction the loan when a site has been acquired and their requirements as to plans have been complied with. The corporation are negotiating for the purchase of a site, and the Board are in correspondence with them on the subject. The Board have no functions as regards, tramway extension.