§ MR. SEXTONasked the Postmaster General, Whether gas engines have been substituted for steam engines for the working of the pneumatic system in the General Post Office, Dublin; whether it is admitted that the steam engines gave satisfaction, and that the Technical Department and Mr. Preece, chief electrician to the Post Office, reported against the change; if this be so, why was the alteration made; was the work carried out by private tender, or was it publicly advertised; what was the cost of the alteration; how the new engines have been found to work; and, whether the cost of their maintenance is not greater than that of the steam engines?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Lord JOHN MANNERS),in reply, said, that the gas engines had been introduced by the Irish Office of Works, who paid the costs of maintenance, except the wages of the attendants.