§ MR. SHEEHYI beg to ask the Postmaster-General for what term is the contract for the conveyance by road of the mails from Virginia Road to Drogheda; when does it terminate; how much per annum does this service cost; and whether, seeing that this road route is almost parallel to and near the railway at every point, will he say at what time are the morning mails from Dublin delivered in Oldcastle, Kells, and Navan, and what would be the difference of cost to have these mails conveyed by a train timed to run from Drogheda on the arrival of the morning mail train from Dublin, with the transference of the carriage of the night mails from Virginia to the railway company, as compared with the present service; and whether he can see his way to examine the subject carefully with the view to a reform of the present system.
LORD STANLEYThe contracts for the conveyance of the night mails by road between Drogheda and Virginia Road are all terminable at three months notice. The payments to the contractors amount to £821 a year. The morning mails from Dublin are delivered at Navan at 11.20 a.m.; Kells at 11.30 a.m.; Old-castle at 12 noon. I do not know what would be the additional cost of the acceleration desired by the hon. Member, but it would be considerable. As the cost of the postal service in the district is already very high as compared with the revenue from the correspondence, I regret that I am unable to effect the desired improvement.