§ Mr. HUNTasked the Postmaster-General whether the mail steamer "Glencoe," on the Mallaig and Portree route, was built in 1845, and that during the week ending Monday, 6th November, it was unable to leave Kyle of Lochalsh pier for Mallaig owing to stress of weather, and that on Tuesday, 7th November, two Highland cows on board were pressed through the bulwarks and fell overboard; and whether he will take steps to secure the provision of a more seaworthy and safer steamer for mail and passenger traffic?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIt is believed that the steamer "Glencoe" was built about the date mentioned, but I understand that it was reconstructed at a subsequent date. The steamer is under contract to carry mails between Portree and Kyle, but the Post Office has no control over the voyage between Kyle and Mallaig—the route on which the incidents mentioned are stated to have occurred. The mail service is performed by the steamer in accordance with contract requirements, and, so far as the mail service is concerned, there would be no justification for the provision of a more powerful steamer.
§ Mr. HUNTasked the Postmaster-General whether at present the mails for Tarbert, South Harris, lie overnight at Portree; and will he consider the advantage of having a direct service from Kyle of Lochalsh to Tarbert, in the Island of Harris?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI am aware that mails from the mainland for Tarbert lie overnight at Portree. A direct service to Tarbert from Kyle of Lochalsh could not be afforded except at additional expense, which would not be justified by the amount of correspondence. There is already a heavy loss on the Harris postal service.