§ Mr. MAURICE HEALYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, on the 15th August last, the launch of His Majesty's Ship "Hood," in charge of Petty Officer Daniel Walsh, ran into a yacht belonging to a man named Benjamin Hill, in Queenstown Harbour, and did serious damage; whether, in proceedings subsequently taken in the local Court of Admiralty, damages, costs, and expenses, amounting to £110 9s. 3d., were awarded against Walsh; whether these proceedings were defended by the Admiralty, who have not appealed against the decision; whether, in such cases, it is the practice of the Admiralty to pay the amount of judgments so recovered, and whether the Admiralty intend to pay the costs of the judgment in the case referred to?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe facts are as stated, except that the launch was lent to the Committee of the Queenstown People's Regatta, and the Admiralty did not consider that they were liable for any damages caused in these circumstances. The action was brought against the Petty Officer, and the Admiralty gave instructions for him to be represented legally so that his personal interests should not suffer. As the People's Regatta Committee would not accept responsibility and the Admiralty could not allow Walsh personally to be liable for the amount of judgment, it has been decided to pay the amount of compensation awarded with the costs, and the necessary arrangements are now being made accordingly.