HC Deb 21 May 1883 vol 279 cc578-9
MR. BIGGAR

asked the Postmaster General, If he is aware that the morning mails are not delivered in Blacklion until 10.25 a.m.; that before the Sligo Railway was opened they arrived at 8.30 a.m.; that a memorial was sent some months since asking a return to the old arrangement; that memorialists were informed that there was not a sufficient circulation of letters to warrant a change; that Florence Court Post Office, with not one-fourth the circulation, has been within the last month supplied by a special messenger at extra cost to the Postal Department, said messenger leaving Enniskillen at 6 o'clock a.m. and arriving at Florence Court at 9 a.m.; and, will he give the same postal facilities to Blacklion, Letterbreen, Glen-farne, and several other post offices in the same neighbourhood?

MR. FAWCETT

Sir, it is the case that the mail bags now reach Blacklion at 10.25 a.m., whereas, formerly, they arrived at 8.30 a.m.; and the later arrival has resulted from an alteration in the working of the morning train from Enniskillen, which has taken place since the mail bags were placed upon the railway. It is also the case that Florence Court is supplied by a letter carrier from Enniskillen, arriving at 9 a.m., put on in consequence of the train becoming unsuitable for the purposes of an earlier delivery. I will consider, however, whether a better mail service cannot be introduced; and if I find upon inquiry that there is no likelihood of the train running at an hour more convenient than at present, I will consider whether a road service can be reverted to for the mails of the district generally. I may remark that the use of the railway has not been without advantage, as it has admitted of a day mail being afforded to Blacklion and other places.