§ MR. T. J. CONDON (Tipperary, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that on Thursday last, the English and Dublin mails were again delayed for six hours at Limerick Junction. Whether he has taken any notice, and, if so, what, of the representations of the merchants and traders of Clonmel on the delay of the mails for the same length of time on four days of last week. And, if he has taken any definite steps to compel the Great Southern and Western and Waterford and Limerick Railway Companies to put an end to the great inconvenience and loss sustained by the merchants, traders and general public of the towns of Cahir, Clonmel, and Carrick-on Suir caused by the unpunctuality of the trains?
§ *THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonThe Postmaster General regrets that on Thursday last, and also on each of the two following days, a failure of connection between the day mail trains occurred at Limerick Junction. The delay in the arrival of the train from Dublin has in each of the cases referred to in the question been due to the late arrival of the mail steamer at Kingstown, which in its turn was due to the delay in the arrival of the London and North Western train at Holyhead, and representations have accordingly been addressed to the London and North Western Railway. The Department is in communication with the Waterford, Limerick, and Western Railway Company with the view of ascertaining what 487 arrangements are practicable for reducing the inconvenience caused to the residents in the districts served by the Waterford, Limerick, and Western Railway when the English mail is late.
§ MR. MICHAEL AUSTIN (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, pending the concluding of negotiations for an improved service for transmission of the mails, a special train could be run from Limerick Junction to Limerick when the English and Dublin morning mail train is late?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Postmaster General is already in communication with the Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway Company on this subject; but without further inquiry, he cannot undertake to incur the cost of a special train.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)I bog to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the definite acceptance of the now Irish mail time table will be postponed for a sufficient period to enable inquiry to be made as to the possibility of acceding to the request of the deputation from the Irish Chamber of Commerce which recently waited upon the Postmaster General?
§ MR. HANBURYAny representations in the sense indicated by the question which may be made, will be considered, but the Postmaster General believes it to be altogether impracticable to agree to the request of the deputation.