§ MR. BIGGARasked the Postmaster General, Whether it is a fact that for some months past the English day mails for Belfast and the North of Ireland have arrived regularly at the Amiens Street Terminus, Dublin, before 7 a.m. and frequently before 6.45 a.m. and have had to remain there awaiting the departure of the Limited Mail train to Belfast, which is not due to leave Dublin until 7.45 a.m.; whether he can state the number of occasions from the 1st of January until the 31st ultimo on which these mails arrived at the Dublin Terminus between 7 a.m. and 7.15 a.m., and between 7.15 a.m. and 7.30 a.m., and what time are they due (officially) at the Railway Station to be forwarded by the train which leaves at 7.45 a.m.; and, whether, if true that the mails arrive regularly before 7 a.m., additional facilities could be made, through an agreement with the Great Northern Railway Company, for an earlier despatch from Dublin, and thus effect an earlier delivery in Belfast and the North of Ireland generally?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREA margin of 38 minutes is allowed in Dublin between the arrival of the night mail from England and the departure of the day mail to Belfast—that is to say, when time is strictly kept, the mails for the Belfast line are lodged at Amiens Street Station by 7.7 a.m., while the time fixed for the departure of the train is 7.45 a.m. During the three months referred to in the Question of the hon. Member, the mail reached Amiens Street Station 19 times before 7 a.m., 20 times between 7 a.m. and 7.15 a.m., and 21 times between 7.15 a.m. and 7.30 a.m.; but still I am by no means satisfied that an earlier hour than at present could safely 1847 be fixed for the departure of the train. I may mention that during the same period there were four failures of the connection altogether, even with the departure fixed at 7.45 a.m.; while if the departure had been at 7.30 a.m. instead of 7.45 a.m., there would have been 10 failures; and if at 7.15 a.m., instead of 7.45 a.m., there would have been 17 failures. The Question is not an easy one to decide; but as some alteration will become necessary in October next in connection with a somewhat earlier arrival of the English mail in Dublin which is arranged for that date, it shall, at the same time, be considered whether any reduction of the margin of 38 minutes can safely be effected.