§ Mr. FIELDasked whether the Chief Secretary will have inquiries made through the Department of Agriculture in Ireland respecting the cause of the repeated delays in the transit of horses on the Great Southern and Western Railway; whether he is aware that horses loaded at Thurles station about twelve o'clock noon on 2nd May last were detained in the wagons, without drink or food, in rainy weather until 7.30 the following morning, when they were delivered at Waterford, a distance of fifty-five miles; and whether 1845 measures will be taken to prevent the recurrence of such treatment to dumb animals?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Department of Agriculture have no information of the occurrence of repeated delays in the transit of horses on the Great Southern and Western Railway, but inquiries will be made. The Department understand that on 2nd May two waggons containing horses left Thurles for Waterford. The animals were booked at goods train rate, and were despatched by goods train at 3.58 p.m. During the journey the animals were watered at Clonmel, where they remained till 2.40 a.m. awaiting train connection with Waterford. They reached the latter place at 4.20 a.m., but the owners did not arrive to take delivery till 7 a.m. The railway company were prepared, as usual, to despatch a special through train with live stock from Thurles Fair to Waterford, but sufficient animals were not offered for this purpose.
Mr. P. J. POWERMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, owing to the frequency of delays in transit of horses between Thurles and Cashel and Clonmel, he will have those inquiries made as soon as possible?
§ Mr. BIRRELLCertainly; undoubtedly I will.