§ MR. BARRANasked the Postmaster General, Whether he has succeeded in making arrangements to facilitate the transmission of mails between the Continent and Yorkshire, in accordance with the request of the important deputation which waited on him a short time since, representing all the manufacturing towns of the county?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREI fully recognize the great importance to the manufacturers of Yorkshire of being enabled to reply to their Continental letters the same day that they receive them. I am happy to inform the hon. Member that I have concluded an arrangement with the Great Northern Railway Company for the establishment of fast day mail trains in both directions between London and Yorkshire. By this arrangement, which will come into operation on the 1st of July next, the Continental letters which now reach Leeds at 1.49 P.M. will arrive at 11.46 A.M., and the return post will be despatched at 2.50 P.M. instead of 1.10 P.M., thus giving at Leeds an interval for replies of about three hours. At Bradford the interval will be about two hours. Corresponding facilities will be afforded at Nottingham, Doneaster, Wakefield, Dewsbury, Batley, Shipley, Keighley, and Halifax.
§ MR. SEXTONasked the right hon. Gentleman if he could state the result of his interview with the Chairman of the Midland Railway Company, Ireland?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREI have seen the Chairman of the Company to-day, and have been negotiating with him. The demands made by the Company are 606 such as I cannot accede to. I made an alternative offer, which I hope will be accepted.