§ MR. MACFARLANEasked the Postmaster General, Whether it is a fact that the steamship Lombardy, carrying the mail of the 11th of January from Bombay, was detained at anchor at Suez for twenty-four hours, and at Port Said for nine hours, thereby delaying the arrival of the Mail at Brindisi for thirty-three hours; and whether the delay in landing the Mails at Brindisi was not due to the fact that no means were provided for landing them, except the ship's boats.
§ MR. FAWCETTOn inquiry I find that the steamship Lombardy met with some detention after her arrival at Suez owing to quarantine formalities and adverse weather. The ship was ready to enter the Canal at noon on the day of her arrival; but her entry was delayed until the following morning by order of the Canal authorities. At Port Said a short delay occurred for coaling purposes. At Brindisi it was impossible to land the Mails earlier owing to the very heavy weather prevailing at the time 1013 during which the Lombardy parted her cable and drifted outside the breakwater, and was with difficulty brought back into the harbour. Under ordinary circumstances, when there are no quarantine regulations, the steamer comes right up to the quay, and lands the Mails there. I am glad to say that these quarantine regulations will cease to be enforced at the beginning of next month.
§ MR. MACFARLANEsaid, he would call attention to the matter on the Estimates. The weather at Suez was perfectly fine; and six vessels were allowed to enter the Canal whilst the Lombardy was detained.
§ MR. FAWCETTThe captain was detained at Suez by the Canal authorities, over whom the Post Office have no control.