§ MR. MAHONY (Meath, N)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he can state on how many occasions since 17th January, 1889, the mail train, timed to leave Dublin at 7.40 a.m., has missed the train timed to leave Limerick Junction at 10.20 a.m.; whether he is aware that the result of so missing is to delay the mails to Rathkeale, Newcastle, West Abbeyfeale, Listowel, and Tralee at least six hours, and that considerable delay is also caused on the Ennis line; and whether, having regard to the great 'inconvenience caused, he will press on the respective railway companies the advisability of limiting the time by which the departure of the 7.40 a.m. should be delayed owing to the non- arrival of the cross-channel mails, and causing the departure of the 10.20 a.m. from Limerick Junction to be delayed for a similar period when the necessity arises?
§ * MR. RAIKESDuring the period from the 17th January last to the 1st instant the mail train to which the hon. Member refers has on four occasions missed the train leaving Limerick Junction at 10.20 a.m., with the result described. The failure was due on one of these occasions to accidental causes; but on the other three to the late arrival of the 7.40 a.m. train from Dublin. The time by which this train may be kept waiting for the English mails is already limited to half an hour, and it would be highly inconvenient to diminish that limit. The 10.20 a.m. train from Limerick Junction is kept waiting for a short time in the event of the Dublin train being late; and the question whether it might be detained longer, to which course, however, the railway companies are known to see objections, shall be again examined.