§ MR. H. HERBERTsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether satisfactory progress has been made towards carrying out the arrangements with the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, the Chester and Holyhead, and the London and North-Western Railway Companies, for the proposed improved Postal and Passenger Communication between London and Dublin?
§ MR. G. A. HAMILTONSir, I can scarcely state, in reply to the question of the right hon. Member for Kerry, that much satisfactory progress has been made towards carrying out the arrangements with the three companies referred to. The draft of the contract has been examined, and was sent back in February last, but it has not since been returned. I have made inquiry on the subject, and I find that the draft has been for some time in the hands of the Chester and Holyhead Railway Company. The cause of the delay that has occurred in sending it forward is, I understand, the absence for some time of the chairman of the company. There are some difficulties, I believe, in the carrying out of the arrangements, but all those, I have no doubt, will be ultimately removed; and facilities will be afforded for the carrying them out by a Bill at present before the House. I apprehend that the real cause of the delay is the waiting for this Bill to be first passed through the House