29

P.—2.

No. 52. Mr. Geay to Mr. Cbeighton. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd April, 1880. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th ultimo, together with the several enclosures thereto, furnishing full particulars of the fire which occurred on the " City of Sydney" previous to her last departure from San Francisco. I am directed to state that the Postmaster-General is of the opinion that, in pushing on the repairs of the vessel and despatching her at the earliest possible moment, the Company were consulting the best interests of the contracting Governments. Seeing that every endeavour was made to give the steamer the quickest possible despatch from San Francisco, and that the commander was instructed to press his vessel on the run to Auckland, the Postmaster-General has, after consulting the Post-master-General of New South Wales, agreed that the company shall receive full subsidy for the voyage in question, which was performed in 461 hours to Auckland. I have, &c, E. J. Creighton, Esq.. "W. Gray, Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Secretary.

By Authority : Gbobgb Didsbuet, Government Printer, Wellington. —1880. Price Is. 3d. 5—F. 2.