§ MR. LAINGasked the Postmaster General, Why the correspondence of the counties of Sutherland, Caithness, and Orkney has been deprived of all connection with the up limited mail, except on Sundays, since the opening of Railway communication to Wick and Thurso in July last; whether it is the intention of the Post Office to restore that connection; and, whether it is intended to accelerate the down limited mail, so as to reach Wick and Thurso in time for an evening delivery in those towns, with a corresponding acceleration of the mails to and from Orkney?
§ LORD JOHN MANNERS, in reply, said, that the trains between Sutherland and Caithness, on the Highland Railway, did not run in connection with the up limited mail, and the cost for a special train in the night would be so much out of proportion to the advantage to be gained that the Government would not be justified in incurring it. There was no present intention to accelerate the down mail, for even if it were done, it would only allow of the delivery of letters at Thurso late at night and the despatch of mails for Orkney the next morning as at present.