§ MR. BILL (Staffordshire, Leek)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that complaints have been made of the delay in forwarding letters and parcels from Cape Town, addressed from England, to the troops now in St. Helena; and whether he will take steps to ensure a punctual delivery of the mails in that island.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HANBURY,) PrestonNo such complaints have come to the Postmaster General's notice. Letters and parcels from England for St. Helena do not in the ordinary course pass through Cape Town, but are sent direct, and if any delay of the kind has occurred it must be in the case of letters and parcels re-directed from the Cape Colony. No efforts will be wanting on the Postmaster General's part to ensure the punctual delivery of the mails for St. 898 Helena. At the present time, in addition to the regular monthly mail provided by contract, mails are despatched by any other advantageous opportunity that offers; but these extra mails are conveyed by vessels over which the Postmaster General cannot exercise any control.