I did
so, and I had to report unfavourably, for "facts are chiels that winna
ding." For some time after my report things went on fairly well, but
only for a time. The Board of Works were, by Act of Parliament,
custodians of the public interest in the matter of this and other similar
railways, and a long-suffering and patient body they were. From time to
time they complained, protested, adjured, threatened; sometimes with
effect, sometimes without. Years rolled on and matters grew worse. Loud
public complaints arose; the patience of the Board of Works exhausted
itself, and a climax was reached.
_The Railways Ireland Act_, 1896, provides that where any railway,
constructed under that Act, or under other Irish Light Railway Act, had
been aided out of moneys provided by Parliament, the Board of Works
might, at any time, appoint "a fit person to inspect and report upon the
condition of the undertaking and the working, maintenance and development
of the same," and if such "fit person" reported that the undertaking was
"not efficiently worked, maintained and developed" the Privy Council
might then make an Order appointing a manager or receiver of the
undertaking, with such powers as should be specified in the Order.
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