E.—4

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Company, requesting that in future any changes in the order of the Service may be advised to them at least two weeks in advance, to which is subjoined a copy of the reply I have directed to be addressed to them. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 69. The Agents-Geneeal to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. Gentlemen, —■ Referring to the contract entered into between yourselves and the Postmasters-General of the Colonies of New South Wales and New Zealand, we hereby, as Agents for and on behalf of such Postmasters-General, give you notice and require you to receive, convey, and deliver at San Francisco, Auckland, and Sydney Her Majesty's mails and all other mails which may be intrusted to you by the Postmasters-General of the said colonies respectively, at or according to the dates or times in the table herewith annexed respectively mentioned. Dated at London the eighth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and seventyeight. William Forstee, Agent-General for New South Wales. Julius Vogel, The Pacific Mail Steamship Company. Agent-General for New Zealand.

Enclosure 2 in No. 69. The Agents-Geneeal to the Hon. the Postmaster-Geneeal, Washington. Sic, — London, Bth January, 1878. We have the honor to enclose herewith the time-table for the mail service between Great Britain, New Zealand, and New South Wales, by way of San Francisco, for the year 1878. You will observe that the dates have been put back, and that they are about one week earlier throughout than would have been the case if the times had been continued at intervals of four weeks from those of 1877. The day of arrival in London has been notified as Tuesday instead of Thursday, it being believed that this day can now be relied upon, with rapid transit through America and carriage across the Atlantic in boats of the Inman or White Star line. We have, &c, William Foestee, Agent-General for New South Wales. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, United States, Julius Vogel, Washington. Agent-General for New Zealand.

Enclosure 3 in No. 69. The Agents-Geneeal to the Postmaster, San Francisco. Sib, — London, Bth January, 1878. We have the honor to enclose herewith the time-table for the mail service between Great Britain, New Zealand, and New South "Wales, by way of San Francisco, for the year 1878. You will observe that the dates have been put back, and that they are about one week earlier throughout than would have been the case if the times had been continued at intervals of four weeks from those of 1877. The day of arrival in London has been notified as Tuesday instead of Thursday, it being believed that this day can now be relied upon, with rapid transit through America and carriage across the Atlantic in boats of the Inman or White Star line. We have, &c, William Foestee, Agent-General for New South Wales Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Postmaster, San Francisco. Agent-General for New Zealand.

Enclosure 4 in No. 69. Messrs. J. Mackeell and Co. to the Agent-General for New Zealand. 21, Cannon Street, London, 9th January, 1878. Dear Sib. Julius, — Pacific Mail Contract. "We received, as you are aware, a telegram from Messrs. Elder and Co., stating that the deed we had sent them for execution by the sureties, giving a similar sanction to arrangements for 1878 as was given to arrangements in 1877, had been executed by Mr. Macgregor and the members of their firm ; and, as arranged at the conference we have had to-day with yourself and Captain Jopp, we now write advising as to the course which you should take.