§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, will he explain on what grounds an official of the General Post Office has been, for some weeks placed in charge of the sub-post office, Clonmellon, county Westmeath; why the conduct of that office was taken out of the hands of Miss Higgins, the sub-postmistress; and how long is the existing arrangement to continue?
§ MR. HANBURYAn investigation into the conduct of the office disclosed serious irregularities on the part of Miss Higgins, and it became necessary to put the officer in charge. It was only after much hesitation that the Postmaster General felt able to allow her a further trial on the understanding that, if she should give any further cause for complaint, there would be no alternative but to take the office out of her hands. Miss Higgins was restored to duty on the 13th instant.