§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked the Postmaster General, Whether complaints have reached him of the irregularity in firing the Greenwich time gun on the Marina, in the City of Cork; and, whether some arrangement could be made to insure that the gun should be fired punctually at noon, as in other ports? I would also ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether this gun had not really become the laughing stock of the city, exhibiting what I may call wilful eccentricity in sometimes going off for weeks, and then not going off at all?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)In reply to the hon. Gentleman, I have to state that no complaint has reached me of irregularity in the firing of the time gun on the Marina at Cork. No arrangement has been made with this Department for the supply of the Greenwich time signal at noon. At the request of 1664 the Harbour Commissioners the signal is supplied daily at 10 o'clock, and the Commissioners, I am informed, make their own arrangements for firing the gun at 1 o'clock. Therefore, the Post Office is not responsible for any irregularities that may occur at that hour. The signal cannot be supplied to any Provincial town at noon; but if it is the wish of the Commissioners that it should be supplied to Cork at I o'clock, as at some other places, I shall be glad to receive an application from them on the subject.