THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDEbegged to ask the Postmaster General Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Contract lately made by the Government with Railway and Steam Packet Companies for the Acceleration of the Irish Mails; and whether any Steps have been taken to obtain better Accommodation for landing and embarking passengers at Kingstown and at Holyhead? He said that his notice was given, and he asked the question on the assumption that the contract to which he referred had been signed. If so, it was desirable that it should be known what the details were. It had been stated that the carriages attached to the express mail trains were too limited for the accommodation required, and it was a point to which attention should be directed. There was another matter with regard to which he hoped something would be done, and that was with respect to affording better accommodation for landing and embarking passengers, especially at Kingstown. There was a great want of accommodation there which could be easily remedied at a small expense and in a short time.
§ LORD COLCHESTERsaid, that he had to state that the contract which had been so long pending was signed and sealed on the 3rd of January. It would have been completed sooner but for the circumstance 1348 that the Chester and Holyhead Railway could not complete their part of it till their own arrangements had been concluded with the London and North Western Company. There was no objection to lay the contract on the table. With regard to the details alluded to by the noble Marquess, he had to say, that two special trains would start each way every day except Sunday. One would start from Euston Square at 8.30 in the evening, reaching its destination in a maximum of eleven hours; and another at half-past seven in the morning. Owing to the great speed of these trains it might be necessary to moderate the number of carriages they contained, in order to preserve a proper weight. As to better accommodation for landing and embarking at Kingstown, he had made inquiry on the subject. That matter did not rest with the Post Office, but with the Board of Works in Dublin, as far as Ireland was concerned; and he was informed that arrangements would be made, and the landing place completed, in about three months. At Holyhead the matter rested with the Admiralty, and he was informed that the necessary arrangements would be completed in the present year.
§ House adjourned at a quarter-past Six o'clock, till To-morrow, half-past Ten o'clock.