The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-10 00:00:00

IRELA ND.

DUBLIN, Sept. 8.

The Lords of the Admiralty visited Queenstown
on Thursday on their annual tour of inspection of
the Government naval establishpaents. They received
a deputation from the " Dockyard Committee" on
the subject of the Royal Dock which is being con-
structed at that port. The objects of the deputation
were stated by the Mayor of Cora, the Earl of Ban-
don, and Mr. Maguire, M.P., who urged upon their
lordships the expediency of completing the work
with as little delay as possible, as it was of the
greatest importance, not only to the port but to the
naval service of the empire, that there should be an
establishment at Queenstown capable of receiving
and repairing such of her Majesty's ships as might
suffer injury on the southern coast. At present if a
disaster were to occur to a vessel of the fleet it would
be sent to Plymouth, at more or less risk, to be re-
fitted, and this was a state of things which might be
most inconvenient to the service. It was understood
from what had fallen from the First Lord in the
House of Commons that the Government intended
to make the dock with convict labour alone ; but,
as the supply of convicts was, happily, small in Ire-
land, this course would delay the work considerably,
and the deputation was requested to:ask that free
labour should be employed in the dock. There was
no doubt that a great necessity existed for the dock
—as great as when the First Lord had recommended
the work to Parliament originally ; for the new
class of ships employed in the navy required to be
docked more frequently than old, and it would be of
the greatest advantage to have at this port an esta-
blishment into which they could be received. The
Admiralty should not rely on the private docks,
which might be occupied at the very moment the
need came, and, therefore, no time should be lost
in finishing the Government establishment here.
Sir John Pakington said that the policy of esta-
blishing the dock there had been affirmed by the
course taken by. the late Government and the Home
of Commons. He was in' favour of that policy.
Looking at that noble harbour, he could not doubt
that if they could only by waving a wand create a
dockyard on its shores it would be of great advan-
tage to the Royal Navy. But the question of policy
had been decided, and the only question that re-
mained was how that policy could be fairly and ex-
peditiously carried out. He entirely adopted the
principle affirmed by Lord Bandon and the Mayor,
that when once a pledge was given by the Govern-
ment foithe establishment of any public work it
was right that pledge should be redeemed fairly and
honourably, and with such expedition as might be
compatible with the interests of the country. fie was

afraid that in this case there was some little iffi-
culty, for, speaking under correction, he was underl
the impression that the vote for the work was asked
for on the understanding that it was to be built
with convict labour. There was at present a difli-
cultyof procuring convict labour, and only 150 con-
victs could be put on the work, though the number
in the original estimate to complete the work in sl:t
years was set down as 600. At the present rate
the dock would not be completed for 24 years. Ile
would make inquiries to ascertain whether a larger
..
number of convicts could be procured from Irish o'
English prisons, but here the difficulty arose, as frail'
the improved state of the country there was just new
a scarcity of convicts in both. They were aware,
too, that there were serious financial difficulties la
the prosent state of the navy, and he could not 1).„,°
expected to say more than what he had already said
—that he thought where a public pledge was given
it ought to be redeemed as soon as was consistent
with the general interests of the country. If dal
had to resort to free labour the question of the add'
tional expense would also become matter for consi-
deration.
Mr. Maguire expressed a doubt that the llottse
Commons had limited the Government to convict
labour for making the dock.
The deputation next put before their Lordships
a claim to have the repairs of the Admiralty Piet
at Queenstown defrayed by the Government.
was alleged that when the pier was being built tPide
Admiralty required that timber should be Place
in front of the stonework. There is an insect pee-
liar to the harbour which rapidly destroys all timber
immersed in the water; and to repair the wooden
part of the pier cost £5OO a year. Sir J. Pakingt°llt
said he had not previously heard of this matter,
he would inquire into it. Lord Fermoy called the
attention of their lordships to the advantage of build-
ing a pier in deep water at Queenstown to facilitate
the transmission of American mails. Sir J. Pakille
ton suggested that the best way of bringing t:
matter forward would be by means of a memorial to
the Board of Admiralty stating the whole of the cir-
cumstances and what it would be necessary to do.
would be a most important matter to establish such
a quay. Speaking as a member of the Government
rather than as First Lord of the Admiralty, he
would be prepared to give fair support to any Plan
Mr. Disraeli might consider expedient and consistent
with his views of finance. Their lordships soon after
commenced their inspection, visiting in succession the
dockyard works at Haulbowline and the Sailors
Honie. In the evening they entertained a diatie;
guished party on board the Osborne. The Fir',
Lord was accompanied by Sir F. Milne, Adalir3
Seymour, M.P., and Mr. Ducane, M.P.
An interesting ceremony took place yeterdai at,
the town of Wicklow—the launch of a new lifeboat
for that station, which was witnessed by a
concourse of people. The boat was the gift of
R. J. Garden, of London, son of the late Mr. R. 'as
Garden, of River Lyons, King's county. A sit° Wh
granted by the Town Commissioners close to to
beach, beside the entrance to the small harbour °
Wicklow, upon which a handsome and commodious
boathouse has been erected. Over the entranc° to
it is a tablet to the memory of the late Mr. Garden;
and stating that the present lifeboat establistottabea
is presented in the names of his grandchildren, t'h

Hisses Garden.
The Lord-Lieutenant received deputations °IP
day from the Rathmiues and Rathgar Township
Commissioners ; from the Governor and Council "I
the Apothecaries' Hall, Ireland; and from the 1113
Agricultural Society of Ireland. To the address °af
the latter his Excellency replied in the follewilj°
terms :
Mr. Lord President, Vice-Presidents, and Council °f the
Royal Agricultural Society, —I thank you for the loyal a:3,
cordial sentiments with which you greet me as the r°
the
sentativo in this country of our gracious Sovereign '
Queen. Connected as lam by landed property with 119
land, and fully aware, from long experience, how intl.-at ,l
the welfare of every class in Ireland, whether comitoroe
or manufacturing, is bound up in that most important 71,
which has for its object the efficient cultivation of the 0.'03
the agricultural prosperity of Ireland cannot but be 'llot
mo a matter of the deepest interest. I trust I have ;
been wanting hitherto in some evidence of that il,Wre-,:f
and I am glad of the opportunity of giving further P' la
of it by acceding with pleasure to your wish that I elictt,
become vice-patron of a society which has for its 0bit)..,,,"
and has been so instrumental in promoting, the
meat and progress of agriculture in Ireland.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

--.0.-.--

NORWICH— SATURDAY. l°'
There was a better supply of wheat at this marl. Of
day, and the trade ruled fully 2s per qr. htgher, foft
and good qualities being readily taken off. 011115 best
samples of barley are at present offering, and for tbtlicies
qualities extreme rates are demanded. other At'
little doing. aitto
White wheat (weighing 641 b), 53s to 55s ; old roc': log
weighing 651 b), 44s to 50s ; new red ditto rthiog
601 b to 631 b), 51s to 525; best malting barley' wel2lo
521 b to 531 b), 38s to 40s ; runs ditto (weighing
34s to 36s ; distilling ditto (weighing 501 b to b211:),„1 3n932s ; oats, 24s to 26s ; beans, 57s to 39s ; peas 0:01)"
to 38s per qr. Flour, 37s 6d per sack. 511 b too to

LEICES TER SATURDAY. Oter
The heavy rains of the past week have serious,Yl,o
fared with the progress of the harvest in this BArbett
Accounts respecting barley aro less favourable. oo",
has been injured to some extent. There was a staa' 0011
of wheat at market to-day, which made 4s per cif' well
money than last week. The best samples of barley riceo
dearer. Oats sparingly represented, and last weeks P
were maintained. , 01'1A
New white wheat, 51s to 55s ; new red, 475 to b‘'„,'
white, 52s to 57s ; old red, 49s to 53s per 36 stose'to 3'll
ley, for malting, 37s to 41s per qr. ; grinding, 32s
per 30 stone. Oats, old, 30s to 34s ;* new, 25s to 28t cone'
stone. Beans, old, 51s to 53s ; new, 48s to 50s par