§ MR. MARUMasked the Postmaster General, Whether the populations of 90 Ballyragget and Castlecomer, Lisdowney and Freshford, in the county of Kilkenny, besides those of Abbeyleen, Durrow, Ballinakill, and Atlaugh, in the Queen's County, on whose behalf a resolution adopted at a large and influential public meeting has recently been forwarded to him, will be absolutely un-provided for and wholly deprived of any benefit under the proposed new Mail Service from Dublin to Cork, unless the Mail Train stops at Maryboro' as prayed for; and, whether he will undertake that no final decision be arrived at until there shall be afforded an opportunity of a further expression of the public opinion of the South East of Ireland upon this subject of vital interest?
§ MR. FAWCETTThe Question of the hon. Member indicates the difficulties which are always associated with any scheme to accelerate a mail service. Such an acceleration as that which is contemplated to Cork can only be secured by running the trains at a higher speed and by requiring them to stop at fewer places. If the new trains stopped at all the places where the existing train does, a considerable part of the acceleration would be lost. I regret the places referred to should not derive any advantage from the new service. I am very anxious that there should be no delay in bringing the new service into operation; but I shall be prepared to consider any representations which may be forwarded to me by the hon. Member or others who are interested in the districts to which he refers.