F.—4

30

In the meantime, however, the Postmaster-General will be glad to have a further expression of your views on the subject, together with any specific proposals which you may be authorized to make. I beg to enclose, for your information, a copy of the several Parliamentary papers noted in the , margin, bearing on the proposal to modify the San Francisco Mail Service. I have, &c, The Director for the Interior, Noumea, W. Geay, New Caledonia. Secretary.

1876. F. 3b, 3e, 3f.

No. 98. Mr. Geay to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Sydney. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 31 st January, 1877. I am directed to forward, for your information, a translation of a communication, addressed by the Government of New Caledonia to the Postmaster-General of this colony, on the subject of the San Francisco Mail Service, together with a copy of tho letter in reply from this office of to-day's date. I have, &c, W. Geay, The Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney. Secretary.

No. 99. Mr. Lambton to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sic,— Sydney, 6th March, 1876. I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your communication, dated the 31st January last, enclosing a translation of a letter from the Government of New Caledonia to the Postmaster-General, Wellington, and a copy of the reply thereto, relative to the San Francisco Mail Service. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, The Secretary, General Post Office, AVellington. Secretary. i

No. 100. Messrs. Gilcheist, Watt, and Co., to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Sic,— Sydney, 17th October, 1876. We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your telegrams dated 11th, " Question Pacific Mail," and 14th instant, "Decision arrived at last night," and to thank you for your courtesy in so promptly advising us. The Colonial Secretary has furnished us with a copy of your telegram to him. We fear our Parliament will not sanction any arrangement for change, unless the net reduction in subsidy thereby obtained is divided equally between your colony and this one, inasmuch as New South Wales loses very much in time by the proposed modification, while New Zealand gains very materially in time, and suffers no disadvantage whatever, except in the reduction of speed of one knot in her coastal service, which has proved to be impracticable with the large vessels. The coastal service also is a matter from which the foreign Contractors should be relieved of all responsibility, seeing they are too far off to exercise any control; and we hope this may not prove of auy difficulty in the arrangement between your Government and ours, as there are such fine local steamers on your coast to which employment would be of great value, and over which you can exercise active supervision to insure the work being well performed. We have, &c, Gilcheist, Watt, and Co., General Agents, Pacific Mail Steamship Company. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

No. 101. Mr. Geay to Messrs. Gilcheist, AVatt, and Co. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 30th October, 1877. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, having reference to the resolution passed by the House of Eepresentatives of this colony on the proposed modification of the San Francisco Service, as submitted by the Contractors. I have, &c, W. Geay, Messrs. Gilchrist, AVatt, and Co., Sydney. Secretary.

No. 102. The Hon. F. Whitakee to the Hon. the Postmaste-Geneeal, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 28th October, 1876. San Feancisco Service again under consideration by Parliament, and resolution passed affirming my telegram of fourteenth October to Colonial Secretary, but authorizing omission of Honolulu, and . adding that " in the event of Contractors electing to call at Auckland, and desiring to discontinue

1876. F. 3e,No. 2.