§ LORD NAASsaid, he wished to ask the hon. Gentleman the Secretary of the Treasury what would be the latest period at which the Government would consent to receive tenders for the conveyance of the Australian mails?
§ MR. WILSONsaid, that the latest period originally intended for the reception of tenders was last Thursday. In consequence, however, of the noble Lord's suggestion for the postponement of that day he (Mr. Wilson) said the Government would have no objection to do so until Wednesday next, upon an application being made to that effect. No application had, however, as yet been made for any postponement of the time. However, as parties who wished to tender might imagine that the contract was still open, in consequence of that postponement, he had given orders that no tender should be opened until the latest period fixed, because it might be said that the time had already expired. He wished then that all those tenders should remain un-opened until Wednesday next, and if no further tenders were presented, they would take it for granted that all who wished to tender had done so.