OVERLAND MAIL ROUTE.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 636, 15 February 1870, Page 2

OVERLAND MAIL ROUTE.

"' — — ♦ I*EW PROPOSALS. The following highly important letter, which was received by the Government of New South Wales by the last mail, appears in the Sydney Afternoon Telegram of Jan. 25:— ; (Copy.) ■ ■■' * Rectory-house, Martins-lane, Cannon street, London, E.C. " 3rd December, 18Q9 "To the Hon; the Chief Secretary of State for New South Wales. " Honorable Sir,— We have the honor : to inform you that a committee of English and Australian gentlemen having: been formed in the month bf September last, ' with the object of establishing' a new, cheap, rapid, and improved rciute between Europe aud Australia through America in less than 40 days, effecting, a saving of 20 ! per cent in time and4opercentinmohey^ have now concluded arrangements for the intended service by means of a line - of : steamers from Milford Haven to Portland, and another line in correspondence from San Francisco to Sydney, by a company to be styled the Atlantic and Pacific Mail Steamship Corporation, which company will be prepared to submit to you a tender for carrying the mails:betw,een Europe., the United States, and New South Wales, on the following terms :~-: ".:;■• "1. The service to be performed in first-class steamships, specially adapted to meet the wants of the colony, averaging ,- a tonnage of from 2500 to 3500 e»ch, and capable of accommodating 150 first-class and 750 second-class passengers. ■ r ■ ■■■ "2. Every outward and homeward voyage to be performed within a period of; 40 days to Sydney. i" 3. Premiums and penalties to bd on a basis of LSO per .diem.- ■ . •■■•? < " 4. Security for the due fulfillment of

the contract to be given to the satisfac'» tion of your Government. ; " 5. The subsidy to be paid to the corporation for the transmission of the mails to be fixed at LIOOO per voyage out, and a like sura per voyage home. " 6. The contract to be for 10 years. " It is also important you should be informed that the corporation will undertake the conveyance of passengers from . , London and the chief cities and towns of England to-jSydney at the unprecedeutedly low through rates of L6O first-class and LBO second-class, including raj}, provision, and other charges, the journey through America being at its widest part, and therefore the most healthy, quickest, and cheapest hitherto proposed. Vlt being. considered by the committee ■ of the utmost importance that every practical facility' should be afforded by your Government to the speedy conclusion of the present negotiation, we venture to urge on your attention the propriety, of your nominating some representative in London 011 your behalf, with full powers to treat and conclude with the corporation, . ...'.. <f We have, Ac,, "Cummins and Co.''