23

F.—2.

The Pacific Mail Steamship Company have agreed to the change proposed, and the alteration will commence with the mail of the 10th April next, from San Francisco. There will be no alteration in the day of departure from London, and as the mails are sent by the fastest steamer, it is presumed that no saving can be looked for in this direction. We have therefore to ask you to be so good as to accelerate as much as possible the transit of the mails from New Tork to Sau Francisco, in order that the desire of the colonial Governments may be complied with as nearly as practicable. We have, &c, Daniel Coopee, Agent-General for New South Wales. Julius Vogel, The Postmaster, New Tork. Agent-General for New Zealand.

Enclosure 4 in No. 38. Mr. Page to Sir Daniel Coopee, Bart. Sir,— General. Post Office, London, 3rd March, 1880. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of a letter signed by yourself and the Agent-General for New Zealand, and dated the Ist instant, stating that, in consequence of a telegram which you have received from the Chief Secretary, Sydney, you are desirous that no effect should be given to the request made in your previous letter, dated the 25th ultimo, for an earlier despatch from London by two days of the mails for New South Wales and New Zealand, forwarded via San Francisco. The days of despatch will therefore be continued as at present. I am to add that you are quite right in assuming that these mails are already carried across the Atlantic by the fastest steamers on the line between Queenstown and New York. I have, &c, Sir Daniel Cooper. ■ Wm. Jas. Page.

No. 39. The Hon. Mr. Dick to the Agent-General. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd May, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th March last, enclosing copy of a telegram received by Sir Daniel Cooper, Acting Agent-General for New South Wales, from the Chief Secretary, Sydney, relating to the departure of mails from London for San Francisco, and of the correspondence which had ensued on the subject. The Postmaster-General is much pleased with the action taken by you in this matter. I have, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., Thomas Dick, Agent-General for New Zealand, London. (for the Postmaster-General).

No. 40. The AaENT-GENEEAL to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal. Sir,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 18th March, 1880. I have the honor to transmit herewith, for your information, copy of a joint letter by Sir Daniel Cooper and myself, addressed to the White Star Line Company and to the Inman Steamship Company, on the subject of the earlier despatch of the mails from San Francisco. I also enclose copy of a reply received from Messrs. Ismay, Imrie, and Co., and of one from the Inman Steamship Company. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 40. The Agents- General to the White Star Line Company. Gentlemen, — 3, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, S.W., 11th March, 1880. We have the honor to acquaint you that our respective Governments have given instructions that the mails for New South Wales and New Zealand, which are now despatched from San Francisco on Mondays, shall in future be sent from port on Saturdays. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company of New Tork has consented to change the day of sailing from Monday to Saturday, or to start the steamer so soon as the London mail arrives; and we now draw your attention to the earlier departure from San Francisco, and would ask you to be good enough to accelerate the mails, if it be possible, forwarded in your steamers across the Atlantic, so as to meet the desire of the colonial Governments, and make the western compare favourably with the eastern route to Australasia. We do not, of course, suppose that you will accelerate the speed of your steamers; but there may be occasions when, by the exercise of a little despatch in landing the mails, or seeing them forwarded to the railway-station, a whole day might be saved. If the captains would make it a rule to endeavour to get the mail-bags to the railway in time for the train starting west on Saturday afternoon, they would be doing a great service. We have, &c, Daniel Cooper, Agent-General for New South Wales. The White Star Line Company, Julius Vooel, 34, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C. Agent-General for New Zealand. [Note. —A similar letter was addressed to the Inman Steamship Company, Tower Buildings, Water Street, Liverpool.]