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Enclosure 1 in No. 57. Mr. Hall to the Postmaster-General. Sir, — Sydney, 14th December, 1875. The non-arrival of the " Colima " leads me to fear some disaster has befallen her; and to avoid interruption of the mail service, I ask your permission, on behalf of the New South Wales Government, to despatch the "Macgregor" on the 17th instant, in case the " Colima" does not arrive, and to get her to take the mails through to San Francisco; calling at Kandavau, where she will receive and take on the New Zealand mail*. The Contractors will, if this arrangement be sanctioned, be liable for time penalties in case mails are not delivered in their contract time. It is desirable that I should learn as speedily as possible your decision in this matter, that the vessel may be got roady for the voyage. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. H. H. Hall.

Enclosure 2 in No. 57. Mr. Lambton to the General Agent, Pacific Mail Steamship Company. Sir, — General Post Office, Sydney, 15th December, 1875. I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, intimating the improbability of the " Colima " being able to proceed with the mails for San Francisco on the 17th instant, and proposing to despatch the " Macgregor " with the view of meeting the emergency. In reply, I am to state that the Postmaster-General cannot accede to your proposal; and I take the opportunity to express his regret that, contrary to the understanding under which this department forwarded the mails on the 19th ultimo, viz. that the "Vasco de Gama" was to proceed direct to San Francisco via Fiji, that vessel made a detour to Auckland, involving a delay of some days in the delivery of the New South Wales mails at San Francisco and London. I have, &c., The General Agent, Pacific Mail Steamship S. H. Lambton, Company, Sydney. Secretary.

Enclosure 3 in No. 57. Mr. Hall to the Postmaster-General, Sydney. Sir, — Sydney, New South Wales, loth December, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of this date, and note you will not sauction the employment of the s.s. "Macgregor" in the event of the non-arrival of the " Colima." The remark " that, contrary to the understanding under which this department forwarded the mails on the 19th ultimo, viz. that ' the ' Vasco de Gama' was to proceed direct to San Francisco via Fiji, that vessel made a detour to Auckland, involving a delay of some days in the delivery of the New South Wales mails at San Francisco and London," I regret to notice in your letter. Allow me to call your attention to my letter of 17th November, in which I stated that the " Vasco de Gama" would be despatched the 19th for Kandavau via Auckland, and stated the reason for this course. My letter of the 18th in no way deviated from this, but was a mere official notification, which had not previously been given, that the ship would receive mails for Fiji and San Francisco. In the same day's paper, and again in that of the 19th, the "Vasco de Gama" was publicly advertised to proceed via Auckland. Whatever penalties, therefore, the Contractors may incur for prolongation of voyage, there has been no attempt in any way to mislead or depart from any understanding. I have, &c, The Postmaster-General, Sydney. H. H. Hall.

Enclosure 4 in No. 57. The Hon. J. P. Burns to Mr. Hall. Sir, — Sydney, 18th December, 1875. I desire to call your attention to the fact that the time for the departure of the mail steamer expired yesterday, and that you failed to provide an approved vessel, and also to your not having made any intimation to me, up to this time, of your intention to provide such a vessel. As it is imperative that immediate action should be taken, I beg to inform you that, unless you give me a satisfactory reply at or before noon this day, I shall feel compelled to employ a vessel to perform the service. I have, &c, H. H. Hall, Esq., General Agent, Pacific Mail J. F. Burns. Steamship Company, Sydney. 5—E. 3.