§ Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that on 5th November, 1902, the Local Government Board for Ireland, by sealed order, determined the townlands of Tullaghmurry East and West and Mullaghacall North, in the electoral division of Portstewart, in the Coleraine Rural District, as the area of charge for special expenses in connection with water and sewerage schemes and other purposes under the provisions of the Public Health Acts; whether he is aware that the special rate on that area at present for such purposes 576W is 2s. 3d. in the pound; that the Commissioner of Valuation in the year 1909 or 1910, without notice to the sanitary authority or the owners and occupiers of certain parts of that area, made changes in the original boundaries whereby some parts within the area were included in the adjoining townlands outside the area, and some parts of the townlands outside the original area were brought inside the sanitary district, causing much confusion; that these changes have made the boundary lines unsightly and crooked; that, notwithstanding that the local sanitary authority have on three occasions asked the Commissioner of Valuation to have the original boundary line reinstated, he has refused to do so; and whether, as it is contemplated at an early date to have the town of Portstewart, which is included in the aforesaid area, formed into an urban district, he will give directions to the Commissioner of Valuation to have the old boundaries reinstated, as requested by the rural district council, the sanitary committee, and the owners and occupiers of the lands interested.
§ Mr. BIRRELLA sealed order was issued, as stated, on 5th November, 1902, by the Local Government Board, but it 577W related only to sewerage works and waterworks. The special rate last year for these purposes was 2s. 3d. in the pound. In the year 1907 certain changes were made in the boundaries of the townlands of the county Londonderry, including those referred to in the question, in accordance with the provisions of the Boundary Survey Acts. Under those Acts no notice to the sanitary authorities is required when a change in a townland boundary is proposed. The changes referred to in the question, which affect only three farms, were favourably reported on, and do not cause any hardship. The chief boundary surveyor has no power, as he informed the sanitary authorities in this case, to reinstate the original boundary line.