§ 64. Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Postmaster-General whether he could make arrangements, either with the Admiralty or the Colonial Office, for one annual post to be delivered to the inhabitants of Tristan da Cunha?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Viscount Wolmer)It is hoped that a yearly call at the island will be possible; but as the matter is at present dependent upon the conclusion of an arrangement with the steamship companies for one of their vessels to undertake the call on payment of an agreed sum a definite undertaking on the 1277 subject is at present impossible. Mails are sent on each available opportunity, whether by His Majesty's ships or others.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs my Noble Friend aware that this is the only British Colony that has no post; that often two and three years elapse without a ship calling at this island and that the islanders are often found in a state of destitution and almost starvation from want of supplies?
§ Viscount WOLMERYes, Sir; I am aware of that.