5

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Tuesday. At present it is true that there are but two of these—the ' Alaska' and ' Arizona;' but by October next, Mr. Guion informs us, their new ship ' Oregon' will be regularly on the line, and they expect from her a speed of from six to six and one-half days, the other two making the passage, as you are aware, in from seven to eight days. Following the Guion ships on Wednesday (in case the mails should miss the former) are the steamers of the Bremen and Cunard lines ; and on Thursday and Saturday alternately, those of the White Star and Inman lines. It would appear, therefore, that it would be well if the mail could be arranged to arrive in New York on Monday, or early Tuesday morning, as we believe that such an arrival here would insure the quickest transit across the Atlantic. From Liverpool, the Guion and Cunard lines leave on Saturday, the White Star and Inman lines leaving on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and from Southampton, the Bremen Line also leaves on Thursdays, although we suppose the Imperial Government would object to forwarding the mails by a German ship ? We trust our cablegram was sufficiently full and clear to give all the information necessary to your good selves and to the Government, in deciding on this very important point in the arrangement of the new time-table."

No. 10. Mr. Gray to the Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 11th October, 1883. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 27th ultimo, and to thank you for the extract forwarded therewith from a letter from the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, New York, to Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., respecting fast trans-Atlantic steamers, in connection with the time-table of the renewed San Francisco mail service. I have, (fee, W. Gray, The Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney. Secretary.

No. 11. The Hon. Mr. Trickett to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 4th October, 1883. Have considered time-table question in all its bearings, and consulted agents here. Eegret we can frame no better table than first proposed by us. Have you not overlooked the opportunities Orient and P. and 0. services would afford you for replies? Orient dates from Melbourne under our contract are sixteenth and thirtieth November, and so on. P. and 0. dates you know. Will consider any table you can propose which provides for intervals of not less than two days between departure of Frisco and Orient steamers from Sydney and London, and for contractors having not less than fourteen days in Sydney, which, they affirm, are absolutely necessary to dock, refit, load, coal, &c, two of those days being Saturdays and two being Sundays. We would agree to 27th November from here and from London, but agents point out that steamers leaving Auckland on Sundays would be objectionable to you and them. Desirable that matter decided as soon as possible, as contractors pressing for dates. And please bear in mind that your department had matter before it for over three weeks after my telegram of 7th ultimo was sent. W. J. Trickett, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Postmaster-General.

No. 12. The Hon. Mr. Trickett to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, sth October, 1883. In portion of yesterday's telegram suggesting to you to frame time-table, I omitted to say that Orient dates from London are December seventh, twenty-first, and so on. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. W. J. Trickett.

No. 13. The Hon. Mr. Conolly to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, sth October, 1883. Frisco service. As you cannot accept our proposal, consent to mails leaving week later either end. Thursday from Sydney most suitable ; but desire that steamers be despatched in forenoon, to admit of their leaving Auckland in morning. Dates will be November eight, December six, from London, and December six, January three, from Sydney, and every four weeks thereafter. This gives fourteen days in Sydney. E. T. Conolly, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. (Acting for Postmaster-General.)

No. 14. The Hon. Mr. Conolly to the Agent-General, London. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 6th October, 1883. Herewith I have the honour to forward you three proof copies of the proposed time-table for the renewed San Francisco service, which will come into force on the Bth proximo from London, and on the 6th and 11th December from Sydney and Auckland respectively.