E.—4,

26

Enclosure 2 in No. 55. Messrs. Gilcheist, Watt, and Co. to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney. Sic, —■ Sydney, 21st November, 1877. We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter, dated 19th instant, enclosing copy of proposed time-table for mail service via San Francisco. We shall be happy to carry out any time-table the Postmasters-General see fit to agree upon. In fixing day of departure from England, we hope it may be borne in mind to suit it to the sailing day of the fast Atlantic steamers. We beg that early intimation may be given us of the adoption, as telegrams will have to be sent to San Francisco, New York, and London. We have, &c, Gilcheist, Watt, and Co., General Agents for the Contractors, San Francisco Mail Service. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney.

Enclosure 3 in No. 55. Mr. Lambton to Messrs. Gilcheist, Watt, and Co. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Sydney, 24th November, 1877. Referring to your letter dated the 21st instant, in reply to mine of the 19th idem, I am directed to state that the enclosed time schedule has now been approved by the Postmasters-General of this colony and New Zealand, and to request that you will be good enough to take what action may be needful to give effect thereto in January next, i.e., to commence with the departure of the packet from Sydney on the 3rd January, 1878, and from San Francisco about the 21st January, bringing on the mail of the 3rd January from London. I shall be obliged by an acknowledgment hereof. I have, &c, Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., S. H. Lambton, Agents for Contractors, Pacific Mail Service, Sydney. Secretary.

Enclosure 4 in No. 55. Messrs. Gilchetst, "Watt, and Co. to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney. Sib,— Sydney, 27th November, 1877. We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter, dated 24th instant, intimating that the Postmasters-General had approved of the new time schedule for the San Francisco Mail Service, and in reply to state that we will use our best efforts towards carrying the same into effect at the time appointed. We have, &c, Gilchetst, Watt, and Co., General Agents for the Contractors, San Francisco Mail Service. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. P.S.—We will write to San Francisco and New York by next outgoing mail, and telegraph when communication is restored. We presume that all the necessary directions regarding despatch from London of the mails have been already sent forward.—G., W., and Co.

Enclosure 5 in No. 55. Mr. Lambton to the Crown Solicitoe, Sydney. Sic, — General Post Office, Sydney, 28th November, 1877. I am directed to inform you that the Postmasters-General of this colony and New Zealand have approved of a new time-table (copy enclosed), to come into operation on the 3rd January next, for the regulation of the mail service between Sydney and San Francisco by way of Auckland. I am to refer you to my letter dated the 13th instant, forwarding for your perusal a deed received from Messrs. John Mackrel'l and Co., of London, through Messrs. Poster and Thomson, of New York, which has been executed in duplicate by the Pacific Mail Company and their sureties, for the purpose of legalizing the temporary modification of the San Francisco Mail Contract as regards the route and the time to be taken during the current year, or during voyages commenced during 1877 and terminated in 1878, and I am to point out that the new time-table in question is so framed as to continue on the deviation from the route, and the extra number of hours necessarily occupied in the performance of the voyages by way of Auckland. I am also to enclose copies of correspondence that has taken place between Messrs. G-ilchrist, Watt, and Co. and this Department, as well as a copy of a telegram to the Agent-General, London, in reference to this new time-table, and to request that you will be so good as to advise whether any other legal steps are necessary to be taken by this department in connection with this matter to notify the change to Contractors, or to secure the liability of sureties. I have, &c, The Crown Solicitor, Sydney. S. H. Lambton.