§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSON (Manchester, N.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether certain remittances of money from soldiers serving in South Africa, through the Post Office, were lost in the wreck of the steamer "Mexican;" whether, though more than six months have since elapsed, those sums have not been recovered; and what reason exists for that difficulty.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.It is the case that many letters containing remittances from soldiers serving in South Africa were lost in the wreck of the "Mexican." So far as these remittances 836 consisted of money orders and postal orders, duplicates have been issued in all cases in which proof of sending could be supplied. It is believed that the banknotes sent in registered letters have been made good by the banks. A certain amount of coin remitted is actually lost the Cape Government, which provided the sea conveyance, does not accept responsibility for such losses; but the Postmaster General has undertaken certain legal proceedings, which, if successful, may possibly enable him to replace some portion of the lost coin and give compensation for other valuable articles lost in the mails.