§ MR. THOMAS HEALY (Wexford, N.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General if there was any increase in the percentage of letters which passed through the Wexford Post Office last year as compared with seven years ago; and if there has been any acceleration of the mails during that period?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONThere has been an increase of about forty-six per cent. in the correspondence passing through the Wexford Post Office during the last seven years. The increase arose mainly from the inclusion in the Wexford Postal District of a number of country post offices which were formerly in other districts, though served by the same line of railway. During the period mentioned there has been no acceleration of the mail trains, but in the autumn of 1884, just before the beginning of that period, a considerable acceleration was effected.
§ MR. THOMAS HEALYSince this, forty-six per cent. increase there has been no acceleration?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONNo.