§ MR. MACALEESEI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, how many rural messengers are attached to the Smithborough, County Monaghan, sub-postal district; how many of these have been appointed, and by whom, within the past six months; and how many of them are Roman Catholics?
§ MR. HANBURYThere is only one established postman connected with the Smithborough sub-office—viz., the Monagran to Smithborough postman—and he was appointed as long ago as 1882. There are no means of ascertaining without a reference to Ireland, which would take time, how many auxiliary postmen may have been appointed within the last six 1228 months, as the selection of these is entrusted to the District Surveyor, and no record of them is kept at headquarters. The Postmaster General has no knowledge as to how many are Roman Catholics, and he does not consider it desirable to inquire.