F.—2

19

I am to state that the Postmaster-General trusts that, after experience has been gained of the working of the proposed accelerated service, the Contractors may be encouraged to make other proposals for still further shortening the time between San Francisco and the colonies. I have, &c, Messrs. Williams, Dimond, and Co., General Agents, W. Geat, Pacific Mail Steamship Company, San Francisco. Secretary.

No. 30. Mr. Daigabisjo to the Seceetaet, General Post Office, Wellington. g IE _ General Post Office, Sydney, 25th February, 1880. Adverting to the telegrams of the Postmaster-General of New Zealand of the 14th and 17th instant and to Mr. Samuels's of the 16th idem, with reference to the letter of Messrs. Dimond and Co of the 16th ultimo, suggesting the alteration of the days for leaving San Francisco for the ports of New Zealand and this colony from Mondays to Saturdays, with the hope of gaining thereby three days in time of transit of the mails, I am directed to forward herewith for your further information copies of the letters forwarded to the principal TJnder-Secretary of this colony, and to Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., agents for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, on the 18th instant, upon that subject. ' . n The necessary action has been taken in the matter by Messrs. Gilchrist. Watt, and Co. to have the arrangement carried out without delay. The cost of the telegram to the Agents-General will be paid, in the first instance, by this colony, one-half thereof being charged to your account. I have, &c, J. Dalgaeno, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (for the Secretary.)

Enclosure 1 in No. 30. Mr. Dalgaeno to the Peincipai TJndee-Secbetaey, Sydney. g IE; _ General Post Office, Sydney, 18th February, 1880. I am directed to request that you will be so good as to move the Colonial Secretary to cause the following telegram to be sent to the Agents-General for New South Wales and New Zealand— namely : " Change departure mail from Frisco to Saturdays, instead Mondays. Inform New York and San Francisco, and urge London to send by fast packets, so as to reach New York on Saturday mornings. New Zealand concurs." By the next mail it would be advisable to forward, for the fuller information of the AgentGeneral, in regard to the foregoing telegram, the enclosed copies of correspondence, including letter dated 16th January, 1880, from Messrs. Dimond and Co., and telegrams that have passed between the Postmasters-General of this colony and New Zealand on the subject. I have, &c, Jas. Dalgabno, The Principal Under-Secretary, Sydney. (for the Secretary.)

Enclosure 2 in No. 30. Mr. Dalgaeno to Messrs. Gilcheist, Watt, and Co., Sydney. Gentlemen — General Post Office, Sydney, 18th February, 1880. I am directed to acknowledge receipt of the letter from Messrs. Dimond and Co., addressed to the Postmaster-General, dated January 16th, which was handed to him by you, representing that by changing the time of departure of the mail-steamer from San Francisco to the colonial ports from Monday°to Saturday, and by shortening the time of the passage from San Francisco to Sydney, it was possible to gain three days in the transit of mails from London to Sydney ; and requesting, in order to give practical effect to this acceleration, that the Governments whose mail services are concerned should intimate their willingness, first, to consent to the change in the days of departure from San Francisco from Monday to Saturday; and, second, to allow the Pacific Mail Steamship Company the same rate per hour for the hours saved on contract time as has been heretofore paid to the Company. In reply, I am directed to inform you that Mr. Samuel has consulted the Postmaster-General of New Zealand on the subject and they concur in authorizing you to forward a reply to Messrs. Dimond .and Co. in the following terms : "Sanctioned. Governments only pay for time gained between Frisco and 7 nilave to add that the necessary official instructions will be given by telegram to the AgentsGeneral at London to urge upon the English postal authorities the forwarding of the mails for these colonies by the swiftest steamers from London to New York, so as to arrive at the latter port, it possible, on Saturday mornings ; and also informing them of the intention to change the day of departure from San Francisco from Monday to Saturday. r I have, &c, Jas. Dalgaeno, Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., Sydney. (for the Secretary.)