TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION G. 699' 



TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1878. 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. Report of the Committee on Instruments for Measuring the Speed of Ships. 



See Reports, p. 219. 



2. Report of the Committee on the Datum Level of the Ordnance Survey.. 

 , See Reports, p. 219. 



3. Report of the Committee on Tidal Observations in the English Channel, fyc. 



See Reports, p. 217- 



4. The River Shannon : its present State, and the Means of Improving the 

 Navigation and the Drainage. By James Lynam. 



The flood drainage of the River Shannon district has been sought for and ex- 

 pected during the last fifty-seven years. On April 5, 1821, the first Mr. Rennie 

 wrote the following letter to his assistant, John Grantham : — 



" London, April 5, 1821. 



"Sir, — His Excellency the Loid Lieutenant of Ireland having through the 

 Right Honourable Charles Grant directed me in his letter of November 8 last to 

 get a survey made of the River Shannon, as to its levels between Killaloe and 

 Roosky, with a view to lower its surface, in order that the water from the bogs 

 lying on each side of it may be more effectually got off, I request, in the name of the 

 Irish Government, that you will set out for that place to ascertain the practicability 

 of carrying the above wish into execution. 



" I am, Sir, &c, 



" John Rennee. 



" To John Grantham, Esq." 



Since 1821 three select committees of Parliament have sat inquiring into the 

 Shannon improvement projects. Three Acts of Parliament have been passed for it. 

 Ten engineers have been employed by the Government to plan for it ; £11,000 were 

 formerly paid for plans and reports; £557,016 were expended on works, &c, in it ; 

 £22,000 have been expended in maintaining it ; £10,000 have been recently spent 

 in inquiries about the results. 



