§ MR. STACPOOLEsaid, he would beg to ask the Postmaster General, What 489 steps he proposes to take, and when they will be taken, towards securing for the people of Ireland that "cheaper, more widely extended, and more expeditious system of telegraphy" which the Act of last Session, 30 and 31 Vic. c. 110, was passed with the view of establishing, and to aid in the accomplishing of which no less a sum than £6,451,662 has been contributed by the National Exchequer; and, whether the additional Cable which some months ago it was promised would be laid down between England and Ireland has been manufactured, and when it is expected that, through its agency, sufficient means of electric communication will be established between the two Countries?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, in reply, that whatever might be the defects of the Post Office administration of the telegraphic communication between England and Ireland, it could not be said that steps had not been already taken to procure a cheaper system of telegraphy. On the 1st of February, when the Department assumed the control of the telegraphs, a reduction to a uniform shilling rate was made in Ireland as well as in England and Scotland. The effect of this, he believed, was that the number of messages sent between England and Ireland since that date was four times as large as it used to be. The circumstance of the system being somewhat less expeditious than formerly was attributable partly to the immense increase in the number of messages, and partly to the difficulties the Department had to contend with in consequence of the reduction of the means of communication by the breaking, on two different occasions, of the Wexford and Haverford west Cable. The Portpatrick and Donaghadee Cable has likewise been for a long time out of repair; but great exertions were being made to put it in an efficient state. The hon. Member had referred to a promise made some months ago respecting the laying down of an additional cable between England and Ireland. He was not exactly aware what promise the hon. Member meant; but there was no doubt that when an additional cable was required it would be laid down. Indeed, the subject of laying down that cable, and of further extending the inland telegraphic communication, was now under the consideration of the Department, and 490 steps would be taken as soon as possible to carry out those objects.