§ MR. RATHBONEasked the Secretary to the Treasury, If he can state the net loss to this Country on each year, since the 1st day of February 1868, of the Contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Company for the conveyance of the Mails to India, Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, China, Japan, and Australasia?
§ SIR HENRY SELWIN-IBBETSON, in reply, said, that the net loss to this country in conveyance of mails to India, China, Australasia, &c., had been as follows:—For 14 months, February 1, 1868, to March 31, 1869, £290,671; year to March 31, 1870, £209,729; year to March 31, 1871, £200,506; year to March 31, 1872,1;207,486; year to March 31, 1873, £214,868; year to March 31, 1874, £208,582; year to March 31, 1875, £206,052; year to March 31, 1876, £208,268. The accounts for the last three years had not been completed, owing to a misunderstanding with the Indian Post Office, which had, however, now been removed.