§ MR. LAINGasked the Postmaster General, Why Orkney and Shetland have been so long deprived of the benefit of a postal telegraph; and how soon they may expect to be placed on a footing of equality with other parts of the Kingdom in this respect?
§ LORD JOHN MANNERS, in reply, said, that the negotiations for the purchase of the telegraphic cables to Orkney and Shetland had been in progress since the beginning of 1873. So many difficulties had arisen in the matter that no settlement had yet been arrived at, and 141 he was afraid he could not at this moment say how soon such a settlement would be made.