20

]?.—2

No. 31. The Hon. Sir Henet Paekes to the Colonial Seceetaet, Wellington. (Telegram.) • Sydney, 25th February, 1880. Eeceiyed following telegram, dated 24th, from Agent-General: " Pacific Company have consented: start mail steamer from Frisco Saturday, 10th April, and am arranging for it to leave here Tuesday, 23rd March. Inform New Zealand. The Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Ht. Paekes.

No. 32. The Hon. John Hall to the Hon. Sir Henet Paekes. (Teleo-ram.) Wellington, 27th February, 1880. Acceleeated Frisco Service. It seems probable the Agent-General is under some misapprehension, as, from the recent correspondence with the Pacific Company, we understood that the earlier despatch from Frisco was to be accomplished, not by an earlier departure from London, but by an acceleration on the American railways and an avoidance of the loss of time which has hitherto taken place at Frisco. This is certainly what the New South Wales Post Office agreed with me were the facts of the case. Tuesday's departure from London, and Saturday's departure from Frisco, is no acceleration at all. Sir Henry Parkes, Colonial Secretary, Sydney. John Hall.

No. 33. The Hon. Sir Henbt Paekes to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet, Wellington. (Teleoram.) Sydney, 2nd March, 1880. I sent the°following telegram to Agent-General on 26th ultimo: "Do not alter day departure from London ; only change day from Frisco. Merely urge London to send by first steamer." Henet Paekes, The Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Colonial Secretary.

No. 34 Mr. Ghat to the Agent-Geneeal, London. g IB General Post Office, Wellington, 28th February, 1880. I beg to forward you copy of a communication received from the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, in which it is proposed to shorten the time between London and Auckland and Sydney by three days.' Permission to leave San Francisco on Saturday instead of Monday has been granted; and I learn from the telegram sent to the Colonial Secretary, Sydney, by the Agent-General ibr*New South Wales (copy enclosed, together with my reply), that the Pacific Company commence the accelerated service on the 10th April next from San Francisco. I also enclose for your information copies of telegrams exchanged between the PostmasterGeneral of New South Wales and myself. I have, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., Agent-General for W. Geat, New Zealand, London. (for the Postmaster-General.)

No. 35. Mr. Geat to Mr. Cbeighton. g IE _ General Post Office, Wellington, 28th February, 1880. I have to forward for your information the enclosed correspondence relating to a proposal made by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and accepted by the Postmasters-General of New South Wales and New Zealand, for shortening the time between London and Auckland and Sydney by three The contractors have been informed by cable that the Saturday's departure from San Francisco has been sanctioned ; and I hope it may be possible for the accelerated service to commence with the despatch of the steamer from San Francisco on Saturday, 10th April next. In the event of the mails not reaching San Francisco in time to permit the steamer sailing on Saturday arrangements should be made to despatch the steamer immediately the mails are received and shipped. I haTe'-J°^ Ii J. Creighton, Esq., Eesident Agent for New Zealand, W. (teat, San Francisco. Secretary. [For enclosures see previous papers.]