E.—4,

28

No. 62. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Sydney, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 141 h January, 1878. Hate received the following telegram from Forster and Vogel, dated 10th instant: —" Sureties signed documents renewing deed 1877 for 1878. We hand it Company for signature, with notice of timetable. We understand you do not wish us move any agreement with Company. Inform New Zealand." The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Colonial Secretary, Sydney.

No. 63. The Hon. Mr. Fisher to the Agent-General. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 28th March, 1878. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from the Colonial Secretary, Sydney, of a copy of the telegram forwarded by you on the 10th January last jointly with the Agent-General of New South Wales, intimating that the sureties for the Contractors for the San Francisco Mail Service had signed the necessary deed sanctioning the adoption during the current year of the modified San Francisco Service. An original deed, duly executed by the President of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, has since reached this office. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. J. T. Fisheb.

No. 64. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal. Sir, — 7, "Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 21st December, 1877. I attach copy of a telegram received from the Hon. the Premier concerning the San Francisco Service. On communicating with the Agent-General of New South "Wales, I found he had a similar telegram from his Government. We consulted together, and decided to send telegram (copy attached) urging the two Governments to notify Tuesday instead of Monday as the day of arrival in London. It would be very damaging to the service to name Monday, as four times out of five the mails would not be delivered until Tuesday, and the reputation of the Service suffer accordingly. We at once communicated with Mr. Mackrcll, who advised that the consent of the sureties must precede the publication of the time-table, and undertook to endeavour to obtain their consent. lam aware, from verbal information since received, that he is exerting himself to the utmost to obtain the consent. The time is very short to the end of the year, but I hope everything will be satisfactorily arranged. It is right to mention that Mr. Gray's thoughtfulness in sending me unofficially a copy of the timetable he had received just before the departure of the mail was very useful. The Agent-General of New South Wales had not a copy. On examining it, it gave the times for the whole year, evidently in accord with the telegram received; and it will thus enable us to give notice for the whole year instead of for the two or three months telegraphed. I mention this particularly, as frequently the early receipt of a document of the kind is of great importance. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 64. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) "Wellington, 16th December, 1877. Frisco Service amended time-table. From January, mails leave London third and thirty-first January. Mails hence due London February eighteen. Contractors accepted table. Inform Post Office. Contractors and sureties should renew bond expiring December. The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. G. Grey.

No. 65. Copt of Despatch from the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Goveenor. My Lord, — Downing Street, Ist January, 1878. I have the honor to transmit to you, for communication to your Ministers, a copy of a letter which I have received from the Postmaster-Genera!, pointing out the inconvenience which is likely to result from the sudden change made by your Government and by the Government of New South Wales in the date of departure from this country of the mails for Australia and New Zealand by way of San Francisco. I have, &c, Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, Caenaeyon, K.C.M.G., &c.,&c.