§ Mr. GINNELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Midland Great Western Railway Company of Ireland has seriously injured traders and boatmen by rendering the town of Longford inaccessible to loaded boats on the Royal Canal by pouring clay into the canal to staunch a leakage which should have been staunched by a few feet of masonry; whether he is aware that a similar obstruction is now being poured into the canal at the Downs Bog, near Mullingar, rendering that part also un-navigable; and whether he will read the condition subject to which that company hold the canal, and require the company in accordance with it to maintain the canal in a navigable condition throughout?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Sydney Buxton)The Midland Great Western Railway Company inform me that at the two places mentioned they have been repairing the puddle lining of the canal bottom, and that the navigation depths have been properly maintained. If the company is not complying with the condition to which the hon. Member refers, the matter would seem to come within the jurisdiction of the Board of Control, specially constituted to deal with this canal, rather than within that of the Board of Trade.