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Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 870, 9 October 1874, Page 2

We understand that several tenders have been sent in for the performance of the mail service between Queenstowu and Clyde, and further learn that some of these tenders are at a very low rate, and calculated upon the basis of a two horse coach service. It is a matter of so much public importance that the mail service should be carried through effectively, that we trust the remarks we are about to make will receive from the Postoffice authorities some slight consideration. We are sure that the officials of the department are quite as anxious as the public that mails should be regularly delivered, and within contract time. But we wish to point out that the looking at tenders in the mere light of their respective amounts, and calculating upon the savings effected by the acceptance of the lowest sent in, docs not mean that which they and the public are anxious to secure. In fact, on the other hand it often meausa wretchedly conducted service. At least past experience has proven this. The present year's contract was secured by the lowest tenderer, but it fortunately fell into the hands of contractors able and willing to perform it. They put on the road a plant equal to the value of a good hotel on the goldfields, employed servants, and offered to the travelling public first-class accommodation. The mail is now delivered an hour or more before the contract time—G p.m.—four horse.} instead of two are used, and everything proceeds smoothly. We have in a previous comment pointed out that we think this annual tendering system a mistake, and have given our reasons for that opinion. It is not necessary that we should repeat them again here fully. We need only point out that if contracts are to be decided upon the one question of lowncss of price, there will not be the slightest inducement offered 'to put on again a first-class and expensive coaching plant. We are afraid it is too late to recommend that the mails be delivered one hour earlier in Qucenstown. It is quite easy ! and practicable to so deliver them, and the Post-master-General, when considering the tenders,