Mr. HORNERasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the lands of David Dickson, of Drummond, Dungannon, county Tyrone, and of sixteen other occupiers of holdings in this and ad- 164W joining townlands who are now compelled to pay drainage rate to the Upper Bann Drainage Board, are constantly flooded owing to the fact that the Board will not extend its operations sufficiently far along a tributary of the River Blackwater to drain these lands; and whether he will take immediate steps to induce the Board to deepen the watercourses for a sufficient distance to drain the lands in question?
§ Mr. BIRRELL:I understand that the townland in question is assessable for the maintenance of the Upper Bann Navigation. The Navigation Trustees are bound by law to maintain the works in connection with the navigation, but the Irish Government have no power to call upon them to extend their operations as suggested in the question.