F.—l

10

50-33 days from Dunedin, and in 535 days from Wellington. The shortest delivery was accomplished in 48 days from the Bluff and Dunedin, and in 50 days from Wellington. The longest transit from the Bluff occupied 5-1 days, from Dunedin 55 days, and from Wellington 57 days. The outward mails from London via Brindisi were delivered on the average in 4712 days to the Bluff, 475 days to Dunedin, and 4962 days to Wellington. The quickest transit to the Bluff was 41 days, to Dunedin 45 days, and to Wellington 48 days. The longest delivery occupied 54 days to the Bluff, 55 days to Dunedin, and 57 days to Wellington. Comparing the several performances of the two services, it is found that, notwithstanding the acceleration which has been effected on the Brindisi line, the service via San Francisco more ihan holds its own with the rival line. The following comparison may be read with interest; the groups of figures represent the maximum, minimum, and average number of days within which mails have been delivered by each service:— San Francisco Service. Brindisi Service. London to Auckland ... ... 43—38=40-33 "... 60—50=53'37 Wellington ... ... 47—41=4333 ... 57--16=49-62 Dunedin ... .... 49-42=44-75 ... 55—45=475 Sydney ... ... 48—43=45-83 ... 48—41=43 Melbourne ... ... 50—47=48-58 ... 45—38=4044 Auckland to London ... ... 43—39=40-17 ... 57—50=53 Wellington „ .., ... 45—41=42-17 ... 57—50=53'5 Dunedin „ ... ... 46—43=4392 ... 55—48 = 5033 Sydney „ ... ... 48—44=45-25 ... 50—44=46-17 Melbourne „ ... ... 50—46=47-25 ... 47—41=43-17 The net cost to the colony in respect of the San Francisco and Galle mail services is shown by the following statement: — ltecEiFrs and Payments on account of the San Francisco and Galle Mail Services for the "Year 1879. San Francisco Service. De. £ s. d. £ s. d. Subsidy to Pacific Mail Company ... ... 32,500 0 0 Estimated bonus due contractors ... ... 1,250 0 0 Interprovincial services, Mail Agents, &c. ... 7,793 18 6 41,543 18 6 Ce. Postages from London Post Office ... ... 14,821 19 1 Postages collected in the colony ... ... 16,448 3 4 Receipts from non-contracting colonies ... ... 3,046 13 0 3 4> 316 15 5 Net cost to the colony ... ... ... £7,227 3 1 The estimated net cost of the service for 1878 was £12,432 16s. Galle and Suez Service De. £ s. d. £ s. d. Payments to Victoria ... ... ... ... 9,01(! 3 9 Intercolonial service, &c. ... ... ... 5,331 11 0 . i 4; 347 14 9 Ce. Postages from London Post Office ... ... 3,815 9 8 Postages collected in the colony ... ... 3,006 1 0 — 6,821 10 8 Net cost to the colony ... ... ... ... £7,526 4 1 The estimated net cost for 1878 was £7,391 12s. Id. The payment made for the year for the transmission of correspondence by the Torres Straits mail service was £97 15s. 2d. By the San Francisco service 415,275 letters were received from and 385,055 letters despatched to the United Kingdom. The number of letters despatched to and received from the United Kingdom by the Galle service was 67,913 and 93,715 respectively. The services—Wellington, Kaikoura, and Lyttelton, and Wellington and Patea —have ceased to be subsidized, and a saving of £540 a year effected. By a rearrangement of the West Coast of the Middle Island service a saving of £2,800 a year is secured. The service as performed at present by the " Maori " ceases next month ; and from July next the settlements south of Hokitika will be served by a steamer starting every four weeks from Gteymouth and Hokitika, and returning to the same ports. This service will cost £1,200 a year, and a twelve-months' contract has been entered into.