§ MR. GINNELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will explain why the Board of Control of the Royal Canal have not since 1895 insisted upon the works of restoration and repair then reported by the Board of Trade inspector to be necessary; will the shallowness of the water render traffic on the canal impossible while the repairs are being executed; if so, has any guarantee been obtained from the Midland Railway Company limiting that time; has that company been required to make any arrangement with traders and boatmen in respect of loss; and has any inspection been made as to whether the waste of water occasioned by the neglect and by the repairs will so lower 658 the level of Lough Owel as to endanger the water supply of Mullingar.
§ MR. CHERRYI beg to refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply which I gave to his Question on this subject on Tuesday.† Certain legal matters of some difficulty are under consideration, and I would ask that Questions on the subject may be deferred for the present.
§ MR. GINNELLMay I ask how long, in view of the urgency of the matter and the danger to health?
§ MR. CHERRYA few days—say next Tuesday.