§ MR. J. STEWARTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether he will direct inquiries to be made into the present arrangements of the Hydrographic Department, with a view to secure for the Merchant Service a more speedy and certain supply of Admiralty Charts?
§ MR. W.H. SMITH,in reply, said, that the arrangements for the supply of charts for the Merchant Service were fully reconsidered between 1870 and 1873, and were then settled on a principle which was deemed the best that could be adopted. The charts were 3,000 in number, and they were constantly under revision. It was, therefore, exceedingly difficult to keep at every port a supply of charts which should be always available for service if required; but they could be sent for by telegraph and forwarded by post. If the hon. Member had any suggestion to make for the improvement of the present system, they would be exceedingly glad to consider it.