§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will state how often during the months of April, May, June, July, August, and September, 1897, the steamier carrying Her Majesty's mails between Stornoway and Strome Ferry was late in her arrival at Stornoway and Strome Ferry respectively, and how often the delay exceeded half an hour at each place; and will he state the maximum delay on any one occasion?
§ MR. HANBURYDuring the months of April, May, June, July, August, and September, 1897, the steamer carrying the mails between Stornoway and Strome Ferry arrived late at Stornoway 114 times, the delay exceeding half an hour 59 times. In the same period the train was late 157 times, and it is probable, therefore, that this unpunctuality was chiefly due to the train and not to the steamer. At Strome Ferry the steamer was late 34 times, the delay 325 exceeding half an hour 15 times. The maximum delay occurred on the voyage from Stornoway on 16th April, when, owing to weather which was described as "very stormy," the arrival at Strome Ferry was 3 hours 15 minutes after time.