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be another session of Congress before our Parliament meets, and that the question will have been disposed of in a manner acceptable to the colonics. So far it would seem you had not found any necessity to act on the instruction sent you last month requesting that you should proceed to Washington. I have, &c, W. Gray, R. J. Creighton, Esq., San Francisco. Secretary.

No. 15. Mr, Creighton to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir,— San Francisco, California, 9th March, 1883. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of date January 26, 1883, containing instructions relative to the Pacific mail service. I have carefully read the same and noted contents. I did not proceed to Washington on receipt thereof, because there was no useful purpose to be served by the journey. Congress was about to adjourn, and did adjourn on the 4th of March, and it would have been impossible to influence legislation in any way at that advanced stage of the session. There were two measures before Congress having a direct bearing upon the service : one of these was a proposal for a fast mail service from New York to San Francisco ; the other, a section in the Shipping Bill providing a subsidy not to exceed 5i, 500,000 for the carriage of ocean mails, contracts for which were to be called for by public advertisement by the Postmaster-General. The first fell through owing to a disagreement between the two Houses, and doubtless also railroad opposition; the second was killed at the last hour as a sop to the opposition in the Senate, but the House refused to passed the Bill as amended. The consequence is that the Shipping Bill, of which it was an essential part, remains for action in the Forty-eighth Congress, and I have little doubt but it will become law. If the measure had been pressed earlier in the session it would certainly have gone through, and, as the Administration favours the fast mail service, this is only a question of time. I deemed it advisable, upon receipt of your letter, to take steps at once to enlist the commercial and legislative interests of this coast on beljalf of the service. I w raited upon the Chairman of the Postal Committee of the Board of Trade, and had a special meeting called, at which I presented the matter fully. A memorial to the California Legislature, then in session, was adopted, together with joint or concurrent resolutions; and as the time for introducing such . business had expired, except by a two-thirds majority, I undertook to go to the Legislature and procure their adoption. This accordingly I did, with the memorial under seal, which I had introduced concurrently in the Senate and Assembly. I also appeared before the Committees, and had the satisfaction, in a few days, of having the concurrence of both Houses to the Board of Trade resolutions requesting Congress to make adequate provision for a continuance of the Pacific mail service with New Zealand and Australia. The Governor of California was instructed to transmit the concurrent resolutions by telegraph to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively, with a request for their immediate action; and I drafted a despatch to Senator John F. Miller, of California, which was signed by the President of the Board of Trade and the Chairman of the Postal Committee, and transmitted by me, requesting him to take charge of the resolutions and invite the co-operation of the other members of the California delegation. The session was too far advanced, however, for any effective action, the entire interest being centred in the Tariff Bill and the Rivers and Harbours Appropriation Bill. The first passed at the last moment; the second failed. The point gained, however, is this : that the commercial bodies and Legislature of California arc upon record in favour of a subsidy to a mail service with New Zealand and Australia via San Francisco. If I had gone East immediately this could not have been accomplished, because the Legislature only holds biennial sessions ; and I deemed the political and moral support of the Pacific Coast more important than the mere chance of effecting something in the last fortnight of a congressional session, which was marked by great excitement and contention. It will be a strong basis for action in the coming session, although it is not probable that an extra one will be called. In that case, Congress would not meet before the first Monday in December, 1883. Of course, if I had received instructions earlier the matter might have been different, but under the circumstances I think the best thing possible has been done. I have written to the General Manager of the Central Pacific Railroad Company regarding a fast-mail service and freight-rates for colonial produce. I had an interview with Mr. Filmore, the general superintendent, who avoids discussing the points in my letter until Mr. Towne, who is ill, returns to his office. I hope to be able to make a favourable report upon this subject next mail. Railroad competition is fast approaching, and it is worth the consideration of the Central and Southern Pacific, corporations to retain the Australasian trade by special concessions. A copy of my letter is annexed. Should nothing unforeseen prevent, 1 intend going to Washington and New York within a few weeks, and endeavour to make satisfactory arrangements with the United States Government for the carriage of the mail across the continent. I shall likewise consult with the Pacific