§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been called to the delay in the transit of the Australian mails per Orient Steam Navigation Company's steamers from Naples to London; and whether the mails by the Orient steamer which arrived at Naples on Friday last have yet been delivered in London; and, if so, will he state when, the mails left Naples and when they arrived in London.
§ MR. HANBURYThe transit through, Italy and France of the Australian mails landed at Naples is the subject of special attention; and continued effort is made to prevent delay in that service. The last homeward Orient packet arrived at, Naples not on Friday but on Saturday last, and the mails were despatched from Naples shortly before midnight. Through irregularities, however, in the Italian railway service they did not reach London till Tuesday night, and the London correspondence was delivered on Wednesday morning. Representations have been made to the Italian Post Office on the subject.