§ MR. CHARLES McARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange)To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether the errors in the sectoring of the Roancarrig Light, Berehaven, as shown by its actual bearings when compared with the information given in the Admiralty Chart and List of Lights, have yet been rectified; and, if so, for how long a time had the errors existed; whether the sectoring of South Arran Light was rectified in 1903, whether it is now correct, and for how long the previous error had existed; and will he explain why the light at Oyster Island, as shown in the Admiralty Lists of Lights, is described as showing from South 29 degrees East through East to South 21 degrees East, a sector of 352 degrees, instead of from South 29 degrees East through South to 21 degrees East, a sector of 8 degrees; and who is responsible for the error; for what reason the Imogene Buoy is coloured red and the Rosebeg Buoy coloured black, both buoys being on the same side of their respective channels.
(Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) I am informed by the Commissioners of Irish Lights that they are not aware of any errors in the sectoring of Roancarrig Light as shown by its actual bearings when compared with the information given in the Admiralty Chart and List of Lights. They state, however, that with the improved new character of light which will shortly be exhibited at this station, an observer will notice in clear weather when close to the light that the cuts are more sharply defined than with the existing light. As regards South Arran Light, which is cut by the land, I am informed that it was not affected by the painting of the screen part of the lantern in 1903, and that the information about the light given in the Admiralty publications is practically correct. The Commissioners inform me that it escaped their attention, when the Notice to Mariners in regard to the Oyster Island 944 Light was issued, that the wording of it conveyed the impression that the white are was visible over 352 degrees instead of 8 degrees. They will take steps for this to be corrected in the next issue of the List of Lights, and the responsible authority will be asked to consider whether the case is one in which a Notice to Mariners should be issued in the meanwhile. As regards the two buoys mentioned in the latter part of the Question, the Commissioners state that the Imogene Buoy, being the starboard landmark for a danger in the approach to Dundalk Harbour, is coloured red, while the Rose-beg is coloured black as it is considered safer for shipping to treat this latter buoy as the seamark for a port land danger to vessels passing up channel rather than as starboard landmark of a danger in the approach to the Port of Dublin.