TO LONDON BY SAN FRANCISCO.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 107, 26 February 1870, Page 7

TO LONDON BY SAN FRANCISCO.

| The New South "Wales Government received the following highly-impor-tant letter by the last mail from England :—: — "Rectory House, Martins-lane, Can-non-street^ London, E.C., 3rd December, 1869.— T0 the Hon. .the Chief Secretary of State for New South "Wales. — Honourable Sir, — We have the honour to inform you that a Committee of English and Australian gentlemen, having been formed in the month of September last, with the object of establishing a new, cheap, rapid, and improved route between Europe and Australia through America in less than 40 days, effecting a saving of 20 per cent, in time, and 40 per cent, in money, 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 between Europe, the United States, and New South "Wales, on the following terms : — Ist. 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 each, and capable of accommodating 150 first-class and 75 second-class passengers. 2nd. Every outward and homeward voyage to be performed within a period of forty days to Sydney. 3rd. Premiums and penalties to be on a basis of £50 per diem 4th. Security for the due fulfilment of the contract to be given to the satisfaction of your Government. sth. The subsidy to be paid to the corporation for the transmission of the mails to be fixed at £1000 per voyage out, and a like sum per voyage home. 6th. The contract to be for ten 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 Sydney at the unprecedentedly low through rates of £60 first-class* and £30 -second-class, including rail, provision, and other charges ; the journey through America being at its widest part, and therefore the most healty, quickest, and cheapest hitherto proposed. It 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 nominating some representative in London on your behalf, with full power to treat and conclude with the Corporation. — "We have, &c, " (Signed) Cuamnrs & Co."