§ CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade how many vessels have been wrecked in the vicinity of Strangford Bar, County Down, during the past two months, and the approximate value of the loss sustained; and what progress, if any, has been made towards lighting that dangerous part of the Irish coast.
§ MR. CHURCHILLTwo vessels have stranded in this vicinity during the last two months, of which one floated off without assistance, while the other—a Swedish vessel—became a wreck. In addition to these, four vessels have stranded off other parts of County Down, South of Donaghadee, one becoming a wreck. I cannot say what the value of the loss will prove to be. The Board of Trade have sanctioned an expenditure of £1,000 on the establishment of a whistle buoy carrying a white acetylene light off the entrance of Strangford 482 Lough. The Commissioners of Irish Lights state that as the establishment of this buoy may take some time they are meanwhile having an ordinary lighted sounding buoy placed on the selected position with the least possible delay.
§ CAPTAIN CRAIGCan the right hon. Gentleman indicate even roughly how long it will be before the light is provided?
§ MR. CHURCHILLThere will be the least possible delay, but I cannot say what that phrase means in the case of the Irish Lights Board.
§ CAPTAIN CRAIGWe have now been trying to get it for three years. Surely it is time something was done?
§ MR. CHURCHILLWell, an expenditure of £1,000 has been sanctioned, and pending the completion of the whistling buoy a temporary buoy is to be placed there.