§ DR. R. MACDONALD (Ross and Cromarty)asked the Postmaster General, When it is his intention to have the telegraph cable between Lewis and the mainland, which has been out of order for several weeks, repaired; and, whether, having regard to the large fishing interests of the Island, which are mainly dependent for the sale of fish on telegraphic intelligence, he intends to lay a new cable instead of that now out of order?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University), in reply, said, the cable ship belonging to the Post Office was now engaged in the repair of the Stornoway cable. She had been until very recently under repair. The state of affairs referred to in the Question had been brought to his notice about a fortnight ago by the noble Lord the Member for South Paddington (Lord Randolph Churchill); and he had given orders that, as soon as the cable ship had finished her repairs, the first duty she should take in hand would be to repair this cable.