F.^6

76

PROPOSED ALL-RED ROUTE.

No. 256. The Hon. Secretaries, Galway Transatlantic Port Committee, Galway, to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Sir, — Courthouse, Galway, 15th April, 1911. At a meeting of the Galway Transatlantic Port Committee (consisting of representatives of Galway, Dublin, and the Midland Great Western Railway)', which was held in Galway on Thursday, the 13th April, 1911, the question of the proposed fast service from these countries to Canada and Australia was under consideration. It was proposed by the Bishop of Galway, seconded by Lord Killanin (Chairman of the Committee), and resolved unanimously, — " That the interests of Ireland, as well as of Great Britain and the colonies, demand the establishment of the best possible transit-connection between the mother-countries and Canada, Newfoundland, Australia, and New Zealand, and that a suitable scheme for this purpose deserves such financial assistance as may be necessary from the Governments of all those countries. " That the shortest and safest connection, and therefore the cheapest and best, lies through Ireland. " That Galway is the most suitable Irish port to connect with Halifax as terminus, and, if so arranged, with a Newfoundland port of call, — " (a.) Being 230 miles nearer to London than is Blacksod by the proposed Blacksod route (via Lame and Stranraer), and only seventy-one miles farther from Halifax ; " (b.) Having a first - class existing railway (except for a few miles) through the centre of Ireland to Dublin, in easy communication with the north and south of Ireland, and a shorter and more direct connection with Belfast and Scotland than the proposed Blacksod route (Galway being 194 miles from Belfast, and Blacksod 216 miles); while in the other scheme a new railway would have to be constructed from Blacksod to Collooney through a remote district, and the remaining part of the line to Lame in great part freed from curves, and doubled ; " (c.) Having an existing city beside the proposed harbour ; " (d.) And the promise at a reasonable cost of one of the finest harbours in the world. " That we approve of the project of a fast service from Galway to Halifax, to connect with London and the Continent by a ferry service from Kingstown to Holyhead." We have, &c, W. G. Seymour, \ T. N. Redington, Hon. Secretaries. W. G. Fog arty, 1 The Right Hon. Sir Joseph G. Ward, K.C.M.G., Prime Minister of New Zealand, Wellington. [P.O. 11/345(4).]

No. 257. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Hon. Secretaries, Galway Transatlantic Port Committee, Galway, Ireland. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 17th June, 1911. I have the honour, by direction of the Acting Postmaster-General, to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter of the 15th April last, addressed to the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Prime Minister of this Dominion, conveying resolutions of your Committee on the subject of the proposed fast steamer service between the United Kingdom and Australasia. The resolutions have been noted by this Department. 1 have, &c., D. Robertson, Secretary. The Hon. Secretaries, Galway Transatlantic Port Committee, Courthouse, Galway, Ireland.