asked the Secretary to the Treasury on what date the isolation ward of the small-pox hospital near Boxted, Essex, was sanctioned by the Local Government Board for the reception of sanatorium patients?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. On the 30th December the Local Government Board approved, under the National Insurance Act, the wards in the Infectious Diseases Hospital, situate at Mile End, Colchester, and it is presumed that this is the hospital referred to in the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the House the figures of the total membership in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, respectively, and for the United Kingdom, as reported to the National Health Insurance Commissioners, of approved societies in connection with friendly societies, trade unions, particular firms or industrial concerns, and industrial insurance companies, respectively; and the figures of deposit contributors on the latest date for which the returns have been made up?

The classification of the contributors' cards with reference to the different types of societies from which they have been received is now being made. It is a very considerable task, and is not required for immediate administrative purposes. The work is, however, progressing rapidly, and the results will be published at the earliest possible date.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether any doctor on the panel will be perfectly free to refuse any patient whom the insurance committee desire to allot to him; and whether such refusal can in any way operate to the detriment of such doctor?

As I stated, in answer to the hon. Member for Stirlingshire, on 6th January, any doctor on the panel has a preliminary right of refusing any particular insured person who applies to be placed on his list. It will be the duty of the insurance committee to make such arrangements as are suitable for medical benefit for any patients who are thus refused by the doctor of their first choice; and these arrangements must be as far as practicable in agreement with the doctors themselves. Insurance committees may ask the doctors in any district to agree each to accept a proportion of insured persons who may be refused attendance by the doctors of their first choice; or the insured person may be invited to make another choice of a doctor willing to accept him, or some other arrangement may be made by the committee for his medical attendance and treatment. The latter part of my hon. Friend's question is put in rather general terms, but in ordinary circumstances the results of a doctor refusing a particular insured person would be merely that he would not be responsible for and would not receive remuneration in respect of that insured person.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the sum of £9,334,020, given on page 103 of the last Inland Revenue Returns (Cd. 6344) as the total net produce of Income Tax, under Schedule A, for 1910–11, is derived from agricultural land and buildings as distinguished from other forms of real property?

As I have on previous occasions explained to the hon. Member, the amount of tax paid in respect of any particular class of property cannot be exactly stated. The gross assessments on lands—which, broadly speaking, comprise agricultural land and buildings—form 19 per cent. of the total gross assessments under Schedule A, but it is impossible to apportion the deductions among the various classes of property in such a way as to enable the net assessments on each class to be determined with any approach to certainty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, as the result of investigations by the private Land Inquiry Committee or from official information at the Treasury, he can state whether, if existing rents of agricultural holdings in England and Wales were revised by a Land Court, the majority of such rents would be raised or lowered; and, if raised, what the average increase would be?

I cannot undertake to discuss in answer to a question a subject so obviously unsuited for such treatment.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when the sale of the Toler estate, at Bautiss, North Tipperary, will be completed; and if he is aware that the tenants signed the agreement on 15th September, 1906, and that the matter is one of urgency?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and purchase agreements were lodged in October, 1906. The case is on the principal register of direct sales (all cash) and will be dealt with in order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary whether an offer has yet been made by the Congested Districts Board for the purchase of the Clements estate, Maam, Connemara; and, if so, will he state whether the offer has been declined or accepted?

The Congested Districts Board have recently made an offer for the purchase of this property which has not yet been accepted or refused.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired the Piers estate, at Clonsilla, county Meath; if so, will he say when it is likely to be distributed; and whether they have received memorials setting forth the claims of local applicants?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. The formal proposal of the Estates Commissioners to purchase these lands will issue when their requirements as to title and other matters have been satisfied. The reply to the last paragraph is in the affirmative.

asked the Chief Secretary (1) whether he is aware that the Wade estate at Clonabraney, county Meath, was in Judge Ross's Court until an application was made by the tenants that it should be sold to them, and that the untenanted land was offered for sale at the same time; whether the Estates Commissioners will apply to the present owner to have the original offer carried out; (2) whether Craven II. C. Wade, who sold the Clonabraney estate, county Meath, direct to the tenants and who resided at Rockfield, county Wicklow, is since deceased; whether he repurchased the demesne land at Rockfield; if so, whether his successor in title is now entitled to repurchase the mansion and demesne land at Clonabraney; whether he is aware that his successor resides outside of Ireland; and if, having regard to the spirit of the Act of 1903, he will provide by legislation or otherwise that facilities should not be given to absentee landlords to purchase demesne land for the purpose of resale?

This estate is the subject of proceedings before the Estates Commissioners for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and at the time of the institution of such proceedings there were no sale proceedings pending in the Court of the Land Judge, and the Commissioners have no information as regards any proceedings prior to that date. In his application the owner has requested the Commissioners to make him an advance to repurchase his demesne as provided by the Act of 1903. The Commissioners understand that an advance was made to him by the Land Commission under the Acts prior to that of 1903 to enable him to purchase certain lands in Wicklow of which he was the tenant. They are not aware that he has since died, and they have no information as to who may now be entitled to the property. The estate will not be reached in order of priority for some years, but when it is being dealt with the question of the sale of the demesne lands will be fully considered.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners gave a man named Gunning a farm at Drumrone, near Nobber, county Meath; if he is aware that he never entered into actual occupation of the house or lands, that a stranger now occupies the residence, and that the lands are practically derelict; whether he is aware that the giving of this farm to a stranger, who apparently has no intention of residing there, while many local applicants were in need of the land, has caused social unrest in the district; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The Estates Commissioners allotted Patrick Gunning a holding on the Barlow estate, county Meath, in exchange for a farm surrendered by him in county Galway to enable the Commissioners to relieve the congestion in that district. With the approval of the Commissioners, he has made a temporary letting of portion of the holding until he can arrange to bring his family to it and reside there himself. The holding has been vested in Gunning, and the matter is closed so far as the Commissioners are concerned.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state, approximately, when the tenants on the Earl of Kenmare's Bantry estate who have purchased may expect to have their holdings vested in them?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the Estates Commissioners hope that it will be dealt with at an early date.

asked the Chief Secre-Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board has yet made an offer for the purchase of the Millar estate, in Carraroe, Connemara; and whether, in view of the poverty of the 200 tenants on this estate, he will urge upon the Congested Districts Board the desirability of acquiring the property without unnecessary delay and reselling it to the tenants, who are now compelled to pay rents out of all proportion to the value of the holdings?

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. The property has been inspected, and an offer for purchase will be issued by the Congested Districts Board as soon as practicable.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the townland of Keenaghbeg, near Crossmolina, county Mayo, on the Palmer estate, recently acquired by the Congested Districts Board, was valued by the Board's representative at fourteen years' purchase; and will the Congested Districts Board arrange, pending the transfer of title to the tenants, that the payments demanded as rent from tenants in this townland are based on the valuation referred to and proportionate reductions made accordingly?

The townland mentioned was not acquired by the Congested Districts Board at fourteen years' purchase. The Board will collect rents from the tenants in occupation of agricultural holdings on the terms set out in the circular letter, a copy of which has already been furnished to the hon. Member. The price at which holdings needing alteration will be sold cannot be given before the alteration, enlargements, or improvements are carried out.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Owens and Brown estate, near Ballyglass, county Mayo, has yet been acquired by the Congested Districts Board, and, if so, upon what terms; are the grass lands of the estate included in the purchase so that congestion may be relieved; do the Board intend to drain the marshy portions of the land; and what provision is contemplated as to the necessary turbary for the tenants?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet acquired this property.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will use his influence with the Estates Commissioners to enable Peter Dwyer to purchase his holding on the Hogan estate, in county Wexford, which estate is now being sold under the Land Purchase Act?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and an agreement for the purchase of his holding was signed by Peter Dwyer, senior, since deceased. His son Peter Dwyer is now in occupation of the holding which will be vested in him on compliance with the requirements of the Estates Commissioners as to title.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a pension of 5s. per week was granted to Mrs. Margaret Grace, South Ring, Clonakilty, county Cork, by the pension committee; if the pension officer recommended 3s. per week; whether on appeal the Local Government Board decided that the applicant was entitled to no pension and rejected her claim; whether there is any precedent for the rejection of a claim recommended both by the local committee and the pension officer, as in this case; and, if not, will this case be reconsidered with a view to granting the claim, even at the reduced amount recommended by the pension officer?

The facts are as stated. When a case comes before the Local Government Board on appeal, it devolves upon them to decide it on the facts as submitted to them, and, in giving their decision, they are not necessarily limited to deciding between the grant made by the pension committee and that recommended by the pension officer. It has frequently happened that the Board have come to a different decision from that of the pension committee and the recommendation of the pension officer. As the case in question has been determined, it is not open to the Board to reconsider their decision.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Return of Irish Departmental officials, of which notice stands on the Order Paper, will be granted: [2. Mr. Ginnell,—Salaried Officials (Ireland),—Return of all the Salaried Officials in all the Government Departments in Ireland, setting forth in each case the name, present official position, date of appointment, age at that date, whether the appointment was by (a) nomination without examination, (b) nomination with limited competition, or (c) nomination with qualifying examination, present salary, automatic increase in next ten years, date when pension will accrue, amount of pension in normal course, total of present salaries and total of automatic: increases for each Department, and the totals for all the Departments?]

I am not prepared to grant the Return. A calculation as to the cost of the Civil Service in Ireland at the end of ten years on the lines of the proposed Return would be valueless as it would be impossible to foretell the effect of deaths, promotions, and other changes.

asked the Chief Secretary what are the new regulations of the Board of National Education for the promotion of assistant teachers; when did they come into force; and how many have been already promoted under them?

Under Rule 103 (c) of the Code assistant teachers appointed on or after the 1st April, 1900, are debarred from promotion beyond the third grade unless in exceptional circumstances and by special order of the Commissioners of National Education. The Commissioners have made no change in the Regulation, but they have always exercised the powers which they possess under the existing rules in suitable cases, and since August last they have promoted twenty-three assistants to the second grade, and other cases are under consideration.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his Department has received complaints regarding the action of certain boards of conservators in Ireland in withdrawing watchmen from the higher reaches of rivers and spawning beds of salmon and trout, and in spending funds contributed by all classes of fishermen in patrolling the area frequented by drift-net fishermen in the salt water; and what steps the Department has taken in the matter?

Complaints of this nature have not been received by the Department. The duties in connection with the matter are imposed by Statute on boards of conservators and the Department have no power to interfere with the arrangements made by these boards.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the accounts of the several boards of conservators of fisheries are regularly audited by the Department; if he will say by whom the vouchers are examined; and who determines the legality and propriety of the payments made and of the work done?

The accounts are not audited by the Department. The boards of conservators apparently appoint auditors, as the abstracts of their annual accounts, which are received by the Department, are signed in each case by the chairman of the board, and auditor and the clerk to the board.

asked the Chief Secretary when the Return showing the names, addresses, and occupations of the persons appointed to the commission of the peace in Ireland, and ordered on 21st October, 1912, and presented to the House on 16th December, 1912, will be on sale to the public; and if he will state the reason of the delay and the dates on which the last Return (No. 306, of Session 1911) was ordered, was presented, and was on sale?

It is expected that copies of this Return will be on sale early this week. House of Commons Paper, No. 306, of Session 1911, was ordered on 5th July, 1911, was presented on 30th October, 1911, and was on sale on 11th December, 1911. No avoidable delay took place on either occasion.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any steps have been taken during the past three months by the Mac-room Rural District Council to secure con- tractors for the building of labourers' cottages uncontracted for under the last scheme, and, if so, with what results; is he aware that the reason why contractors have not hitherto tendered in sufficient numbers is that the price allowed for the erection of each cottage is insufficient, having regard to the increase in the price of building materials within the past few years; and will immediate steps be taken to have cottages built for those labourers who have been forced to live in insanitary dwellings for many years whilst sites have been actually acquired for their better housing, but no other steps taken towards that end?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on 22nd October last, to-which I have nothing to add at present. A further communication will be addressed to the rural district council in reference to this matter.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if the Department have received applications from Gaelic colleges for recognition for their summer courses for teachers of Irish; and, if so, whether such recognition has been granted?

Such applications have been received, but the Department have been unable to accede to them as their Regulations did not contemplate the making of Grants to summer courses of the nature proposed.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will appoint a Departmental Committee to inquire into the grievances of the coastguard service?

No, Sir. I am not advised that there is any necessity for such an inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many range-finders have been actually supplied to the Army; and what number will be required to equip the whole Army at the prescribed number for each battalion?

Approximately 420 one-man Infantry range-finders have been supplied to the Army, and to complete all Regulars, exclusive of India, upon the approved scale, 316 additional instruments are required.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the strength of the Officers' Training Corps on 1st January, 1913, and the number of members of the Officers' Training Corps who are still under instruction at schools and universities, respectively?

The latest figures available, those for the 1st October, 1912, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that Lord Haldane stated that men trained for from four to six months, as proposed by the National Service League, would not be fit to meet regular Continental troops trained for two or three years, he could say whether the fourth battalions of the Special Reserve, trained only for three months, could be sent at once to meet Regular troops on the Continent, or be able to meet them in case of invasion?

If the hon. Gentleman will read the words following those of the authority which he quotes he will find the answer to his question regarding invasion, and as regards war on the Continent I would point out that the fourth battalions mentioned do not form part of the Expeditionary Force.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the 93,000 men posted to the Ersatz Reserve, in Germany, were excluded from his estimate of the numbers taken in that country for military training, whilst 42,000 men recruited for the Territorial Force in the United Kingdom were included; and can he say whether many of the 93,000 men posted to the Ersatz Reserve, in Germany, did or did not receive a longer period of training than our Territorials?

The men posted to the Ersatz Reserve were not included because though they are liable for training for certain periods, at the present time they are rarely called out for such training, and for the period in question it is understood that only 2,700 were so called out; I therefore expressly stated in the answer referred to that the Ersatz Reserve was not included in the number given.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that an aeroplane flown by one pilot may be slightly damaged in landing so that it collapses when flown by another pilot, it is advisable that officers of the Royal Flying Corps other than those at the Central Flying School should in turn fly one and the same machine; and whether he will consider the desirability of arranging that each officer shall have a machine allotted specially to him for the welfare of which he alone is responsible?

It is the general custom in the corps for an officer to fly the same machine, but it is not considered advisable to issue any hard and fast rule on the subject.

asked(1)whether the Report of the Committee on Accidents to Monoplanes is ready to be issued; whether it will be available for the use of all those interested in the construction of aeroplanes; why, if it is not now ready, authorised or unauthorised copies of the Report have been placed in the possession of officers of the Royal Aircraft Factory and of officers of the Royal Flying Corps; and (2) whether the Committee on Accidents to Monoplanes has recommended that certain constructional alterations be made in monoplanes already in the possession of the Royal Flying Corps; and whether the expense of carrying out these alterations is to be borne by the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Aircraft Factory, or by the constructors of the machines?

The Report has been received, and is now being considered by the Army Council. I propose to lay the Report in due course. Copies of the Report are in the possession of Members of the Committee.

asked how many officers of the Royal Flying Corps who are classed as trained military aviators have had no opportunities of practising during the past six weeks owing to the fact that the machines belonging to the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps have been in use for the purpose of training officers recently appointed to the Flying Corps; and whether a number of these recently appointed officers have been appointed without having passed their course at the Central Flying School in accordance with the intentions expressed in the past by the Secretary of State for War?

The answer to the first part of the question is none. With regard to the second part of the question, no officers have been recently appointed to the Military Wing without having graduated at the Central Flying School, but a number of officers who have been selected for the Royal Flying Corps and are on probation are doing their course with the Military Wing instead of at the Central Flying School. These officers will go to the Central Flying School in order to graduate, and will not be appointed finally until they have so graduated. This has been done in order to obtain the number of trained officers we require as expeditiously as possible.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to a prosecution at Lee by the London County Council against a trader called Cannell, which resulted in his conviction, although the evidence of Miss Whelpton, the inspector, showed that the shop was duly closed and the door locked, that she caused defendant to open it by knocking at the locked door and then bought a pair of gloves from him, and relied on her own conduct as proving a breach of the law; and, as an agent provocateur is in the position of an informer and requires corroboration, which in this case was not forthcoming, will he inquire into the case with a view to pardon or annulment of the conviction which was obtained by such means?

I have made inquiry in the case and find the offence was admitted by the defendant. I am informed by the London County Council that action was taken in consequence of a complaint that it was the practice of the occupier, after closing his shop, to evade the law by serving any customers who knocked at the shop door. The sentence was moderate and there is no ground for intervention on my part.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the number of women prisoners there are at present undergoing sentences in Holloway Gaol for offences committed in connection with the agitation to secure votes for women; whether any of these, and, if any, how many, are being fed by force, and for what period has this been done in each individual case; and what has been the effect upon the health of the prisoners subject to this treatment?

Four such prisoners are undergoing sentences in Holloway. Of these, two are being artificially fed. One has been so fed since the 23rd November, the other since the 28th December. In each case the health has been satisfactorily maintained.

asked whether, in view of the fact that it is the duty of the ordinary inspectors of mines to take note of the condition of the pit ponies in the mines they visit, any reports have since the passing of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, been made by those inspectors on the subject of pit ponies and the observance of the regulations in relation thereto; and whether any reports have, since the passing of that Act, been received from the inspectors of divisions on the subject of pit ponies and the observance of these regulations, and have been, or will be, laid upon the Table of the House?

The district inspectors of mines will deal with the question of the treatment of animals in mines and the observance of the regulations in their annual reports for 1912, which will be laid before Parliament. They are not required, apart from their annual reports, to report to the Home Office on their daily work of inspection and administration, except when matters on which they need instructions arise or when reports are specially called for by the Department.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what previous experience in India has been enjoyed by the three members of the Delhi Town-Planning Committee?

Captain Swinton had served some years in India. The two other members of the Committee had not visited India before.

asked whether there are any experts acquainted with Indian building conditions in any other Departments, except that of Public Works, who are qualified to advise upon the technical matters arising out of the plans for the new Delhi; and, if so, whether their opinions will be consulted?

There are no doubt in India, as elsewhere, professional builders and aschitects, outside the Public Works Department, of varying degrees of skill and experience. The Indian Government is not likely to be ignorant of their existence, or to refrain from consulting them on any matter respecting which their acquaintance with local building conditions would be valuable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what number of bales of Indian-grown cotton Japan has used in 1912; and what increase there was over the year 1911?

Figures for the calendar year 1912 will not be available for some time. According to the Japanese official trade returns, the imports of raw cotton into Japan from British India during each of the three years ended August, 1910, 1911, and 1912, respectively, expressed in bales of 400lb. amounted to 987,168 bales in 1909–10; 847,103 bales in 1910–11; and 1,104,954 bales in 1911–12. The great bulk of the Indian cotton imported into Japan reaches the latter country in the period January-August of each year.

asked whether it is the practice in India to slaughter the calves which have been used for the propagation of vaccine lymph, as is usually done in England and on the Continent; and, if not, what steps are taken to ensure that the vaccine lymph is free from the extraneous germs of diseases other than that of vaccinia?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the negative. The steps taken to secure the purity of the lymph are previous quarantine of the calf and employment of strictly aseptic methods in the operations of vaccinating the animals and taking the lymph.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, with reference to the inquiry respecting the speed of motor cars in Streatham, held by order of the Local Government Board at the County Hall, Spring Gardens, on the 16th October last, whether he is aware that, since such inquiry was held, and the Commissioner appointed for the purpose made his report to the Local Government Board, new circumstances have arisen in connection with the motor traffic by the running of two separate lines of motor omnibuses through the proposed scheduled area in Streatham; and whether he will reconsider his decision and grant the tenmile speed limit in the area in question?

I understand that since my decision in this case was given two lines of motor omnibuses have commenced to run over portions of the roads in question. Should the London County Council consider that the circumstances have so altered as to render it desirable that they should make a further application for the imposition of a speed limit with a view to the safety of the public, I should be prepared to give the matter my careful consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the cost of the Telefunken equipment for a 2,000-mile simplex station offered in the tender sent in by Messrs. Siemens Brothers and Company; and whether this offer of Messrs. Siemens Brothers and Company was subsequently withdrawn owing to an agreement with the Marconi Company?

There was no tender from Messrs. Siemens Brothers and Company and no withdrawal. About the end of February in last year a representative of the firm came to sec the Secretary of the Post Office on the subject of automatic telephones, and at the close of the interview mentioned incidentally that Messrs. Siemens contemplated manufacturing wireless telegraphy apparatus on the Telefunken principle. The secretary asked him what a Telefunken equipment for a 2,000-mile station would be likely to cost, and particulars were subsequently furnished by the company. They were not, however, on a basis comparable with that adopted for the stations of the Imperial chain. The estimate was for an equipment to be delivered in England and not for the erection of stations in the selected parts of the Empire. It provided for single stations and not for the duplex stations proposed by the Marconi Company. It did not include duplicate power plant, but only a certain number of spare parts, nor was provision made for automatic reception. For an equipment of this character the price was put at £23,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the approximate number of persons employed in the building trade in Great Britain in the years 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, and 1911, respectively?

There are no annual records of the number of persons employed in the building trades. The latest available statistics are those derived from the results of the Census of 1901. They show that in that year the numbers of persons occupied in the building trades and works of construction were as under:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the values of the imports of woollen and worsted manufactures (including yarn) into the United Kingdom from France and Germany, respectively, for the years 1903 and 1911; and what were the values of the exports of woollen and worsted manufactures (including yarn) from the United Kingdom to France and Germany, respectively, for the same years?

Particulars as to the consignments from France and Germany are not available prior to 1904. The particulars as to goods shipped from French and German ports in 1903 and earlier years are not comparable with the figures as to consignments from these countries which are now ascertained. The following statement, accordingly, compares the figures for 1911 with those for 1904:—Value of the net imports into and exports (domestic manufacture) from the United Kingdom of woollen and worsted manufactures, including yarns, from and to France and Germany in 1904 and 1911.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Report of the Board's official who attended the International Congress on Industial Hygiene and the Prevention of Accidents to Workpeople, held in Milan in May last, has yet been considered; and whether it is in contemplation to circulate the Report to Members of this House?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I received a short report of the proceedings at this conference from the inspector who attended it on behalf of the Home Office, but I think it is hardly of sufficient general interest to justify its publication as a special report. The proceedings at the conference consisted largely of the reading of papers on a variety of subjects, which will, no doubt, be published in the transactions of the conference, and some account of the conference will appear in the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for 1912.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the mails to and from the West of Ireland are still carted across Dublin, as they were before the junction railway was made, and that no use of that railway is made for these mails; and if he will take steps so that the mails for the West shall in future be conveyed by rail in the same way as the Northern and Southern mails have been since the junction railway has been open for traffic?

Mails from the Holyhead-Kingstown route for the Midland Great Western Railway, and from that railway for the Kingstown-Holyhead route are carted across Dublin. The question of conveying them by the Dublin loop line instead of by road was considered some years ago, and road conveyance was then found to be at least equally expeditious and at the same time less costly. I have no reason to suppose that the circumstances have changed, but I will have further inquiry made in the matter, and will acquaint the hon. Member with the result.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can explain why the mails have several times recently been carried past Queenstown; and whether he has received any representations respecting the delay so caused?

I find that the steamers "Celtic," "Cedric," and "Baltic," sailing from New York on the 5th, 12th and 19th of last month, and the "Arabic," sailing from Boston on the 17th, were unable through stress of weather to make the usual call at Queens-town; while the "Campania," sailing from New York on the 31st, which did attempt a call at Queenstown, was prevented by adverse weather from landing any mails. I have received no representations on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what provision it is in fact proposed to make during the period of twelve hours' detention for unweaned lambs, of which large numbers are sent from Dublin to Liverpool and other cross-Channel ports for slaughter, as the dealers are uneasy as to this matter, the lamb season being at hand, and they are not reassured by the statements of port authorities and others that the matter will present no difficulty; and will milk and bottle-holders be provided to keep the lambs alive?

The Order about to be issued by the Board will require that all animals shall be supplied with proper and sufficent food during the period of detention. In the case of lambs, milk may be necessary, and, if so, will have to be provided.