§ MR. P. C. DOOGAN (Tyrone, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, what is now delaying the building of the new post office at Portadown; whether the Crown are under rent for building site of same for the past couple of years, and that promises have been repeatedly made, in reply to previous questions on the subject by the Members for North Armagh and South Tyrone and others, that building would have commenced long ago; why were the builders' tenders of 1st August 1556 rejected, and fresh tenders invited for the 28th instant, which will curtail the dimensions of the structure; and, can the Board of Works be empowered to select a builder from the specifications tendered for on 1st August, and the building of a much-required office commenced at once?
§ * MR. HANBURYThe building of the new post office at Portadown will be proceeded with as soon as a tender for the work has been accepted; and that, it is hoped, will be towards the end of the present month. The tenders already received were all too high, and it is not desirable to adopt any of them as suggested. Rent has, of course, been paid for the site since it passed to the Post Office, more than a year ago; but the amount (£20 a year) is trifling.