§ MR. SEXTONI beg to ask the Postmaster General whether application has yet been made to the Railway Companies in connection with the proposed acceleration of the Mail Service by the Larne and Stranraer route; and, if so, with what result; whether a time table has been produced by the companies, showing that the English mails now due in Belfast, viâ Holyhead, about noon, and often delayed in delivery, as on three occasions last week, till after 2 p.m., would be delivered in Belfast before 9 o'clock in the morning; and whether, as the case involves important commercial interests, it will be brought to an issue without delay?
§ A LORD OF THE TREASURY (Sir H. MAXWELL, Wigton)No application has been made to the companies owning the railways and steamboat associated with the Stranraer and Larne route, and the Postmaster General did not undertake to make such application. As I stated a few days ago, the Postmaster General is open to receive and consider any offer which may be made for the conveyance of mails by that route. A time table has been sketched out by one of the companies interested, but I have not heard in what light the other companies regard it.