11

Wo conclude our Eeport by submitting the following statement, which shows what would be the probable financial result of accepting the Orient tender, and paying poundage rates, namely, 12s. per lb. of letters, Is. per lb. of books and packets, 6d. per lb. of newspapers, and 2d. per lb. of parcels, on mails forwarded by the P. & O. or other steamers. Dr. To Colonial share of subsidy to Orient Company ... ... ... ... £37,500 ~ Estimated payments to P. & 0., or other Company, at above rates ... 28,000 ~ Transit of mails of Contracting Colonies through European Countries, &c ' 11,000 ~ Overland transit of mail matter through Australian Colonies ... 3,000 £79,500 Cγ. By Estimated postages that would be collected in the Colonies ... ... £52,000 „ Estimated amount of Australian land transit rates on mails from Europe, Ac. 2,500 ~ Estimated receipts from non-contracting Colonies, &c. ... ... 1,500 £50,000 Approximate net cost per annum to contracting Colonies ... ... ... ... 23,500 The present net cost per annum is about ... ... ... ... ... ... £31,500 Approximate saving... ... ... £8,000 The poundage rates mentioned above are, in the case of letters, in excess of the postage being, with Eurojiean transit rates added, equal to about 3£d. per single-rato letter, and although the present saving would be, approximately, as stated, the loss would increase with the growth of correspondence, whereas the reverse would be the result in the case of fixed subsidies. • S. 11. LAMBTON. C. TODD. JOHN M'DONNELL. General Post Office, Sydney, 17th November, 1896.

A. Table showing possibilities of mail communication between Australia and the United Kingdom by the several lines of steamers now running—other than the two lines at present subsidised, namely, the Peninsular and Oriental and the Orient —and giving an illustrative return trip in each case.

1.-QUEENSLAND ROYAL MAIL LINE—4-Weekly.

2.—CANADIAN-AUSTRALIAN LINE—Monthly.

3.—UNION COMPANY'S LINE, via SAN FRANCISCO—4-Weekly.

Leave— Arrive — No, oi Days. LeaveArrive — No. o! Days, Ldelaide... Tuc, Nov. 8... Iondon Tuc, Dee. 22... 49 London Fri., Dec. 25 ... Brisbane... Sat., Feb. 13... 50 Melbourne. Wed., ,, 4... „ „ 22... 48 ,, ... ., 25... Sydney ... Mon., „ 15... 52 Ijdnejr ... Tim., „ 5... „ ... „ 22... 47 „ ... „ 25... Melbourne Wed., „ 17... 54 Jruhane... Sat., „ 7... „ ... „ 22... 45 „ ... „ 25... Adelaide... Thu., „ 18... 55 ' »____ ; L_________________—. ______ Mails shi ped and landed at Brisbane.

Leave — Arrive — ' No. of Days. Leave— Arrive — No. of Days. Brisbane ... Sun., Nov. 8 ... London Tim,, Pec. 17... Ldeliiido... Fri., „ 6 ... „ ... „ 17... Melbourne. Mon., ,, 9 ... „ ... ,, 17... iydney ... Tuo., „ 10 ... „ ... „ 17... 39 London Fri., Deo. 25 ... Sydney ... Mon., Feb. 1... 38 41 „ .. ,, 25... Melbourne Tue., „ 2... 39 38 „ ... „ 25... Adelaide... Wed, „ 3... 40 37 „ ... „ 25,.. Brisbane... Tue., „ 2... 39 Mails slii ied and landed at S ■dnev.

Leave — Arrive— No. of Days. Leave— Arrive— No. of Days. 3risbane... PH., Not. 20... London Wed., Dec. 30 40 London Sat., Jan. 23... Sydney... Tuo., Mar. 2... 38 Ldelaide ... Thu., ., 19... „ ... „ SO 41 „ ... ,, 23... Melbourne Wed., ,, IS... 31) ilelbourne j Snt., „ 21... „ ... „ 30 39 „ 23... Adelaide .. Thu., „ 4... 40 lydney ... Mon., „ 2,'!... ., ... „ 30 87 „ ... „ 23... Brisbane .. Wed., ., 3... 39 ______ - Mails shipped and landed at Sydney.