The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-25 00:00:00

THE GALWAY PACER? POSTAL CONTRACT.

This morning there was issued with the parlia-
mentary papers the report of the Select Committee of the
Home of C061.11011e, appointed to inquire into the circum-
Menem attending the termination, by the Postmaster-
General, of the postal contract with the Royal Atlantic
Steam Navigation Company. The report itself occupies
upwards of ten pigs., and enters into minute
details. After tracing the history of the contract from the
commencement, the committee my :—" The several lames
raised, and the questions in dispute between the Postmaster.
General and the Atlantic Company, may be cm-
veniently con•idered under the following beads:-1. The
construction of the postal contract entered into
by her Majesty's government and the above company,
dated April 21, 1559, whether the company were
booed to Lane mails to St. John's, Newfoundland.
2. The penalties imposed by the Postmaster-General upon
the company for substituted ships. 3. Fines imposed by
the Postnaster.Geneml upon the cowpony for overtime.
4. The alleged depriving of the company of the colonial
subsidy of 11,500 f. per annum. 5. The rejection of the
stsmtnehip Parana, on the ith May, 1861."
The first point—namely, the construction of the cots-
tract tract—in divided into two beancbes, the legal construction
of the contract itself, and the construction as regulatedby
the intentions of the contracting parties. On age points
the committee, after taking a review of all the einem-
stances, remark, "As regards the construction of the dames
in the contract referred to as involving the
obligation to carry mails to St. John's," they
are " not prepared to express any opinion,' adding
that they " are satisfied by the evidence prisluced that it
was not the intention of either of the contracting parties
that mails should he delivered at St. John's." They after-
wards my that they are of opinion that this question had
no bearing on the termination of the contract, and that it
WE/ ii.unaterial for the purposes of the inquiry. As re-
rtYam peoalties, the committee are of opinion that
ostruaster-Geseral was justified in imposing them.
la relation to the imposition of fines for over time, it is
remarked that the particular ground of complaint was the
imposition of a fine 14900 in the case of the Coonatight,
in 1100, which WEE prevented from landing her mails in
Newfoundland by a fog of unusual density and duration.
The committee do out think that the general rule as re-
gards fine., should be applied in a dosibtfel cam like that.
With regard to the alleged depriving the company of the
colonial subsidy of 8,5 t. W. per annum, they say that
asp it was no part of the' original contract that mails
should be delivered at St. John's, it was fair that the corn-
paoy should be remunerated for it. With regard to the rejec-
tion of the Parana the committee, while declining to give
any opinion oe the legal points raised by the company, env.
skier that es the Parana was reported by the Admiralty to
be unequal to the requirements of the service,
the Postmaeterflemral was justified in refusing her.
The columitase thus advert to special circumstances am-
sleeted with the subject, and express "their sense of the
difficulties with which the company bad to contend from
the commencement of the contract until its termination.'
The report concludes as follows :—" The misfortunes that
hare attended the company's new fleet have also bees cow
sidered by your committee. Within a period of six months
one masa has been lost, another disabled by storm, and the
third also disabled by her encounter with ice off Newfound-
land. Your committee conclude this report by expressing
their opinion that the Postmaster-General was jus-
tified in declining to continue a contract which io
his judgment, at the time of its determination, the company
eoaW not carry out efficiently. Your committee have meson
to believe that the con:tinny will be in pissession of a fleet
of diciest steamships an the course of the present year.
They are of opinion that should it be deemed advisable to
re-eatablish postal communication between the west coast
it Ireland sod America, the Atlantic Steam Packet Corn.
parry arc deserving of the favourable oonaideration of her
Majesty's government.'

'Ns MIMED rzir.wor ELICTRIC rzzar.
6111tAPS COMPANY.—(Tars DAY.)

day the firitt ordinary annual general 1220 -
I :fa the shareholders of this company wu held at the
of the company, Gresham 'Home, Admiral Lem,
M.P., in the chair. The following are the principal points
of the report :
After referring to the dram sad mowasi opposition
which the company emperiescol from the existing men-
pares, the directors emendadated the eharehoidere epee
the fact that they have had alreedy upwards of :100 miles of
' llue coestructed ; thee they bed • more extensive system
than that Bret proposed for about • fourth of the moor
thee estimated. The lines formerly constructed under-
ground between Loudon and Liverpool omit some Iso,ooo/.,
whilst this ono pany's would be sempleted oe the amplest
tor about 35,00 M. For its presser capital of
17,11411°01!, the directors were advised that hoes could be
exteetted to all the principal towns in England, Sootland,
✓ed Wale., mei for less than one year's revenue of the
*Aria( companies, Ireland could be embraoed with
the amplest provision for • strong cable some
the channel. One exiting telegraph company had
fee years piid dividends avenging 6j per cont.
It had in than. years pet by out of profits 19.000/.
M • least fund, to replace defective cables, bmidesearrying
over na medial& d prollt balsam last half of 11,0001., and
gemadai 40,u101. en issiatemmes and renewer A
dt Of -the revenue of the company above alluded
Is, would provide hoodoo: sly for this company's dividend.
The hue betimes Liverpool mid Blanchester wee rapidly
approaching completion ; that between Loudon sad Birrni
hem will probably be finished in • few days, owl the section
between Manchester and Liverpool was also beim actively
The whole of the compooy's system will WO-
' ZblirreLready for traffic by the mooed week in August.
The directors saw DO reawon to modify the opinion they at
Bretexpreaeed df the remunerative ehancter of cheaply
mood telegraph lines, and they trusted WOO to coogrotu•
late the proprietary upon the actual introduction and work.
lag of a reform in telegraph charges which would prove as
beneficial to them as it would unonestioaably be to the
great body of the public.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
remarked that the company had encountered a grea7=
of unfair opposition. The object of the company was to
seed messages at • uniform rate of IL, where they now
cost 10s., and ltbi. each. This would be a great benefit
to the public, and it was so considered as far as he bed an
opportunity of judging. They might Dow rod menages
to Oxford, bat it was thought better to wait till the line
was finished to Manchester and Liverpool. Consideiing
the opposition they met with they had lIIIISOII to he satis-
fied with the present position of the company.
Mr. DAZILL seooeded the motion. It wee a great scum
of amoryanos to the directors that the flee had set bees I
opened three weeks ago, but the delay arose from the un-
real °prairie which they encountered. The capital of
the compsey was amply sufficient to carry out the
project at present m ham]. When the public
saw the value of this part of the project
it wea their intentiou to raise capital for extending it to
other parts of the kingdom. He believed they would re-
ceive very great support from the public ; and persona in
Liverpool told bun that if they could send measlier& Lon-
dee fee le. they would not mood letters through theleoet.
le reply to qnsetima,
The CNAE11111•31 said that they had act decided whether
they would go to parliament next sersioo for power to erect
peke ow turnpike reeds, as it was likely to lead to great en-
pore. It would be eeomsrryy to make a tall in a short time.
After some further the report was agreed to,
the auditors and retiring directors were re-appointed, and •
vote of thaaka pared le the chairman.