P.—2

24

Enclosure 2 in No. 40. Messrs. Ismat, Imexe, and Co. to the Agents-Genebal. White Star Line, Liverpool, 17th March, 1880. G-entlemen, — Australian and New Zealand Mails. We are in possession of your favour informing us that the above mails will in future be despatched from San Francisco on Saturday instead of Monday. We are most wishful to do all we can to facilitate their safe and speedy transit across the Atlantic, and it is an imperative rule that all mails conveyed by the White Star steamers are delivered to the Post Office immediately on arrival at New' York. In fact, they receive primary attention, and are sent ashore by special tender in charge of responsible officers, whose duty it is to see that no delay occurs in delivering them to the American Post Office authorities, upon whom the duty of subsequent despatch devolves. We have, &c, The Agents-General for New South Wales and New Zealand, Ismat, Imeie, ats td Co. 3, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W.

Enclosure 3 in No. 40. The Inman Steamship Company (Limited) to the Aoents-Geneeal. Inman Steamship Company (Limited), Gentlemen, — Tower Buildings, Water Street, Liverpool, 18th March, 1880. We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, and regret that excessive pressure of business has prevented our replying to it sooner. With regard to the subject of it, we have pleasure in stating that the Australian and New Zealand mails, up to within the last two or three years, that went via New York and San Francisco, were despatched from Liverpool by the Cunard steamer on Tuesday, but that Her Majesty's PostmaasterGeneral, finding that the speed of the Thursday mail-boats was such that they delivered their mails in New York about the same time as the above-mentioned Tuesday boats, changed the date of departure or this mail to the Thursday. With regard to the speed of the steamers of the White Star Line and this Company, that now carry these mails, as they are driven at as high a rate of speed as is prudent, it will be impossible to accelerate the mails across the Atlantic between this and New York. With regard to the quickest delivery possible on arrival at New York, we beg to state that this Company has always made it a rule to have a tender waiting under steam from the time the steamer is expected at New York; so that, on her being signalled off the port, the tender immediately goes down New York Harbour and meets her at the anchorage-ground. Every despatch is shown in delivering the mails at the New York Post Office ; and, as quick time is desirable both for passengers and mails, we have only to assure you that nothing will be left undone to give at all times the greatest possible despatch to the Australian and New Zealand mail, which is, as you say, a very important one. Wo have, &c, The Agents-General for New South Wales and New Zealand, William Inman. 3, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W.

No. 41. The Hon. Mr. Dick to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd May, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 18th March, forwarding copy of a joint letter addressed by Sir Daniel Cooper and yourself to the White Star Lino Company, also to the Inman Steamship Company, on the subject of the earlier departure of the mails from San Francisco; also copies of the replies received from the respective companies. I have, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.Gh, Thomas Dick, A gent-General for New Zealand, London. (for the Postmaster-General.) |-wirrn-Timrw«rrira-Tir l »iiii l «'ii-iTmr-Mn.-nr.-niiN l ibi mum v

No. 42. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company to the Hon. the Postmastee-Genehal. Pacific Mail Steamship Company, Pier, foot of Canal Street, Sir,— New York, Ist "April, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Gray's letter of the 28th February, 1880, with stated enclosure. Contents of same, and of the correspondence with our San Francisco agents, have had our careful attention. 1 am glad to learn that the improvement we propose to effect in the schedule time between London and Sydney meets with your approval and that of the Hon. the Postmaster-General of New South Wales; and we hope to put same into practical effect by the despatch of the bearer on Saturday, 10th instant, from San Francisco. AYe have received a communication from the Agents-General of the colonies at London, in which they advise that the London mail will be despatched thence by the Thursday steamer as hitherto, and they express some doubts as to whether the mails will reach San Francisco in time to leave there on Saturdays, in which we confess we concur for the present season of the year; but we do not doubt that later it can and will be done, and that we can also make a saving of one day between San Francisco and Sydney. This latter saving {i.e., between San Francisco and the colonies) is all that we expect or could ask to be paid a bonus for; but we shall of course do all in our power to induce the Post Office autho*