HC Deb 06 July 1857 vol 146 cc967-8
MR. H. BERKELEY

said, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, in reference to the statement of the First Lord of the Admiralty that the steamer Oneida had been condemned by the Government surveyor, under what circumstances the said vessel was employed in the conveyance of Her Majesty's mails from this country and Australia, notwithstanding such Report; and whether it be a fact that he has offered to the Royal West India Mail Company to extend for two years beyond the time now prescribed the subsidy of £270,000, which they already receive from Government, provided they consent to amalgamate with the European and Australian Mail Company, the owners of the said steamer Oneida, and undertake the Australian mail contract.

MR. WILSON

, in reply, said, the Oneida was not employed for the purpose of conveying the regular mail to Australia. It no doubt carried a mail, but that mail was an ordinary transit one, which any other vessel might have carried. The circumstances to which his hon. Friend alluded were these:—The Oneida was one of the vessels offered by the European and Australian Company for the purpose of performing their contract. According to the rule of the Government, she was surveyed by the Admiralty surveyor at Southampton before she left this country. That survey took place on the 18th of October in last year, and the Oneida sailed on the 19th. On the 20th, the day afterwards, the surveyor reported to the Admiralty, and on the 21st the Admiralty made a Report to the Treasury; but of course it was then impossible to prevent the departure of the steamer. An intimation was, however, immediately made to the company that the Oneida would not be accepted under their contract for the performance of the service. Before she returned, as was known, the Oneida broke down; but, he must repeat, she had not been accepted by the Government. With reference to the other portion of the question, it had been already suggested to him that an arrangement, such as that stated by his hon. Friend, might be carried out; but the Government had come to no conclusion upon the matter, nor had a formal proposition been made on the subject. When such a proposal was submitted, it would, of course, be considered with a due regard to the interest of the public.