§ Mr. J. RAMSAY MACDONALDI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any complaint from the local authorities and traders of the district that the Midland Railway Company is not carrying out the duties imposed upon it by the Crumford Canal Sale Act, 1846, and is allowing the canal and works, including the Butterley Tunnel, to fall into such a state of disrepair as to make them inconvenient and almost useless for traffic; whether an inspector of the Board of Trade has been sent to inspect this tunnel and the transport system immediately connected with it; whether the Report of the inspector has been received, and when it is to be published; and whether the Board of Trade proposes to delay the Midland Railway Company's Bill, now before Parliament, until this Report is in the hands of Members.
§ MR. KEARLEYComplaint has been made of the condition of this canal by traders and owners of other canals. Sir William Matthews has been appointed to inspect the canal and report to the Board of Trade thereon, and held his inquiry during the past week. The Board of Trade expect to receive his Report very shortly, and will then consider the question of its publication. In the meantime they have intimated to the proper authorities that the Midland Railway Company's Bill, which contains certain provisions relating to the canal, will not be treated as an unopposed measure until Sir William Matthews' Report is received.