§ MR. MACALEESEI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he has ascertained the value of the mails and postal parcels destroyed in the recent burning of a van on the Great Northern Railway (Ireland); has it been arranged from what source, whether from the Railway Company or the Post Office, the loss arising from the destruction of the mails and parcels will be made good; has the management of the Great Northern Railway supplied any satisfactory explanation of the origin of the fire, by which the mail van and a large portion of its contents were destroyed; if so, will he have the explanation laid upon the Table of the House; and, will he also have laid upon the Table of the House the several claims for compensation made upon the Post Office or the Railway Company or both in this matter?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Postmaster General has not yet ascertained the value of the postal parcels destroyed by the recent burning of a van on the Great Northern Railway, Ireland. No letter mails were injured. As regards the liability of the Company that is a question of law upon which the Postmaster General is not yet in a position to offer an opinion. The Postmaster General is not by law liable to make good any claim arising out of the conveyance of a parcel by post, but he accepts liability for parcels, even though unregistered, up to the sum of £2 provided the conditions of posting, packing, etc., which will be found in the Post Office Guide, have been fully complied with; and claims arising out of this unfortunate fire will be dealt with as received. The Company have not supplied any certain information respecting the origin of the fire, but it seems not improbable that it was caused as previously surmised by sparks from the engine. There is no statement in the possession of the Department to lay upon the Table of the House. No useful purpose would be served by laying upon the Table of the House the claims for compensation received.