MAIL SERVICE VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 100, 29 October 1873, Page 2

MAIL SERVICE VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

The following telegram from the PostmasterGeneral of New South Wales, was laid upon the table of the New South Wales Legislative Council:—Telegram from the Honorable Saul Samuel to the Colonial Secretary, Sydney. — London, 11th October, 1873. Russell and self only just got preliminary agreements signed for both services. Permanent service stands as advised 27th August, except that fresh and good men are now associated with Hall, who gives sureties for £25,000. Temporary service to be performed by steamers over 2,000 tons gross—best and fastest steamers to be got have been employed—to be paid for as follows s—At rate of £60,000 per annum for 10 knots—penalty, £2 for every hour’s delay ; and for 11 knots, £75,000, and further premium for inoreased speed if obliged. Service will probably be 11 knots. Have had to pay extra proportionate rate for speed, owing to difficulty of procuring suitable vessels for such short term of contract, loss of time sending them out, and bringing them back. Steamers secured— ‘ Macgregor,’ now near Hongkong ; will be in Sydney on the sth of December ; to leave Sydney on the 20th December. * Tartar/ on voyage to China, will be in Sydney for second boat. ‘ Mongel ’ (?), new steamer, ready for sea in five weeks. Fourth boat, not yet named. Temporary service to continue only about nine months, when permanent service will commence. Have had most anxious task. Be assured Russell and self will insist on proper provision for efficient service. Could not telegraph before, as we have been unable until now to get satisfactory arrangements concluded with contractors.” Our readers will no doubt be interested to learn that the first ship of the temporary service is a boat which will do no discredit to the service which she is to inaugurate. According to the “ Mercantile Maritime Directory ” for the present year, published by the authority of the Board of Trade, the' Macgregor ’ is a screw steamship of 2,051 gross tonnage. Her engines are 320-horse power. —S.M. Herald.