On board S. S. Omeo off Greymouth 19 Novr. 1869 My dear Fox, In case my telegram of this morning about the mail service should be obscure, I add this line. When I was at Christchurch I saw Grubb the Postmaster with Rolleston. It seems the monthly rate of letters sent across the Island by the Hokitika road is about 1300, of which two thirds originate in Canterbury and the rest from other places. So Canterbury very fairly objects to paying for a bi-weekly mail coach, the Bostmaster saying that as far as postal requirments are concerned a once-a-week service is enough. On the other hand the people here complain that by the recent acceptance of the weekly contract they are deprived of their necessary communication with other places besides Canterbury. They say for instance that the Omeo called at Lyttelton on her way north the other day; with bi-weekly mail across but not otherwise merchants on West Coast can send by Omeo as she calls here today, answers to the letters they received from Melbourne last Monday. I pointed out to the Deputation that this was an advantage wholly to them and in which Canterbury had no benefit, and that therefore ought to pay for it. They admitted this and said they would have been willing to pay if the decision had not been so suddenly made: but they urged that if Canterbury were to be altogether relieved