THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDE,in moving for "Copy of a letter from Mr. Stansfeld to the Marquess of Clanricarde, dated 2d of February, relating to the drainage of the Rivers Shannon and Suck, and its enclosure," said, that as this subject had been considered by a Committee of the House a few years ago, he thought it right that this document should be laid before them. In the communication with which he had been favoured by the Secretary to the Treasury, on the part of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, there was an ambiguity which he desired should be cleared up—namely, whether, in addition to a loan, a grant of public money 874 was to be made to assist in the drainage of the rivers in question?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE,on the part of the Treasury, said, there was no objection to lay the letter in question before the House. With regard to the ambiguity the noble Marquess had found in that communication, it might be necessary to explain that the drainage of the Shannon and Buck had occupied the attention of successive Governments for something like forty years, and the subject had been under the consideration of successive Committees and Commissions. The works were eventually executed at a cost of £600,000, half of which was provided by the Government, the other moiety being borne by the counties and proprietors interested. The works executed had been severely criticized, and it was complained that they had inflicted great injury on the lands in the neighbourhood of the Shannon Valley, and Mr. Bateman was deputed to inquire whether some further improvements might not be reasonably made. He reported that the works proposed would cost £290,000, and that the profit would probably be £6,000 a year, which capitalized would be equal to £120,000. The Government declined to make the outlay on such un-remunerative terms, but directed the Board of Works in Ireland to inquire whether a partial improvement might not be carried out. Their Report showed that, whereas the improvement of the upper reaches would cost £112,000, and would reclaim 8,000 acres, thus costing £14 per acre, the lower roaches—those below Athlone—might be improved at a cost of about £178,000, whereby 16,000 acres would be reclaimed, thus costing £11 per acre. The Government were, acting on the Report, preparing a Bill for carrying out the improvement of the lower reaches; and, although, of course, anxious to reduce and narrow the deficit as far as possible, they were prepared to make good the difference between the total cost and the sum which the works would return. This would show that they were desirous of promoting the material as well as the economical interests of Ireland.
§ Motion agreed to; Paper to be laid before the House.