F.—4a

13

from him that the Post Office have arranged for the despatch of the New Zealand and New South Wales mails on the 31st instant, by a steamer of the White Star line. I have, Ac, Messrs. Lawrence, Clark, and Co., Julius Vogel, Windsor Chambers, Great St. Helens, E.C. Agent-General for New Zealand,

Enclosure 3 in No. 15. Mr. Foesteb to Sir Julius Vogel. London, 3, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, S,W., Sib,— Bth May, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, intimating that as the Inman Company did not propose to run a steamer which would be available for carrying our outward San Francisco mails on the 31st instant, the Post Office authorities had arranged with the White Star line to perform the service. In thanking you for communicating this information to me, I am happy to be able to express my gratification at this evidence of the desire of the Imperial Post Office to forward the colonial mails by a Thursday fast-boat. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. William Fobstee.

No. 16. The Hon. G. McLean to Sir J. Vogel, Agent-General, London. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd June, 1877. I do myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th April last, having further reference to the arrangements for the carriage of the colonial mails across the Atlantic. lam pleased to learn that the representations made by you to the Imperial Government, in conjunction with the Agent-General for New South Wales, have been the means of inducing the Imperial Postal authorities to revert to the original day of departure for the Australian and New Zealand mails, and to forward the mails by fast steamers, if only as a temporary measure. I trust to learn at a future date that you have succeeded in placing this matter on a permanent and satisfactory footing. I have, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., G. McLean. Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

1877. P. 4. No. 168.

No. 17. Messrs. Gilchbist, Watt, and Co., Sydney, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington. Sib,— Sydney, 26th June, 1877. We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 7th June, intimating that the subsidy of the " City of Sydney " (for voyage ending 31st May) had been passed for payment, and we await your further advice. We have, &c, Gilchbist, Watt, and Co., General Agents for the Contractors, San Francisco Mail Service. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

Not publiihed

No. 18. Mr. Geat to Messrs. Gilchbist, "Watt, and Co. Gentlemen,— General Post Office, Wellington, 17th July, 1877. I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 20th ultimo, in reply to mine of the 7th, with reference to the payment of subsidy for the last outward voyage of the " City of Sydney." I now beg to forward a statement of the several sums, amounting in all to £5,000, which have been lodged to your credit with the Bank of New Zealand, Wellington, since the 11th of last month. The payments in question would, in the ordinary course, have been advised to you on the day of lodgment, but for an omission on the part of the Treasury to send the usual note of advice to this office. I have, &c, W. Geat, Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., Sydney. Secretary.