§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he can say what has been the result of his inquiries into the reason why the people of Newcastle West have now to post their letters at 7.30 o'clock a.m. instead of 9 o'clock p.m., as formerly, which has caused inconvenience; and whether he will take steps to have the old system reverted to.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThe contract for the mail service on the Kerry line was terminated in 1902 by the railway company, who demanded a very large increase in the payment for the maintenance of the mail trains. No increase whatever in the payment was justified by the amount of correspondence, as the service in the district already involved a heavy annual loss, and there was no alternative but to acquiesce in the modification in the service which the company proposed; and they have not seen their way to make any permanent alteration since. I am glad to say that I have found myself able to make arrangements for a despatch from Newcastle West to connect with the Fishguard and Rosslare service to England, by the use of which letters for London and the South of England will be materially accelerated in delivery.