THE CALIFORNIAN SERVICE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 243, 31 October 1873, Page 7

THE CALIFORNIAN SERVICE.

We learn from the Dunedin c Star's ' Auckland telegrams, that the following are the arrangements for this service as reported to his Government by the Hon. Saul Samuel : The following telegram respecting the. San Francisco mail service was tabled in the Legislative Council; from the Hon. Saul Samuel to the Colonial Secretary, Sydney.—London, Oct. 11. —I have had great difficulty. Mr. Russell and self have only just got preliminary agreements signed for both services. The permanent service stands as advised by telegram on the 27th August, except that fresh and good men are now associated with Mr. Hall, who gives sureties to the amount of £55,000. The temporary service is to be performed by steamers of over 2,000 tons gross. The best and fastest steamers to be got have been employed. He is to be paid as follows : £60,000 per annum for a ten-knot service, and a penalty of £2 for every hour's delay. For an eleven-knot, £75,000, with a premium if increased speed is obliged. The service will probably be eleven knots. ' We have had to pay extra for a proportionate rate of speed, owing to the difficulty of procuring suitable vessels for such a short term contract, and loss of time in sending them out and bringing them back. The staamers are secured. The Macgregor, now near Hong Kong, will be in Sydney on the sth December, and leave Sydney on the 20th December. The Tartar, now on a voyage to, China, will be in Sydney for the second boat. The Mongol, a new steamer, will be ready for sea in five weeks. . The fourth boat is not yet named. The temporary service will continue only about nine months, when the permanent service will commence. Instructions have been given to the solicitors to prepare the contract. We have had most anxious tasks ; but be assured that Russell and self will insist on proper provisions for an efficient service."