E.—3

8

me by direction of the Agent-General for New South Wales, covering copy of a cablegram from his Government relating to the approval of the time-table of the San Francisco mails for six months, and the consequent later despatch of the mails by that service. In accordance with that cablegram, Sir Saul Samuel informed the Postmaster-General of the proposed alteration of date of departure of the mail from London, which would in the ordinary course have taken place to-morrow, but is now fixed for the Bth November. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure in No. 26. Mr. Yardley to the Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Sir,— 5, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, S.W., 26th October, 1883. I am desired by Sir Saul Samuel to enclose herein, for your information, copy of a telegram which he has received from his Government relative to the alteration of the San Francisco mail service, and to acquaint you that the Eight Hon. the Postmaster-General has been informed accordingly. I have, <fee, S. Yardley, Sir F. D. Bell, Esq., K.C.M.G. Secretary, New South Wales Government Agency. Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 26. The Hon. Mr. Stuart to the Agent-General for New South Wales, London. (Telegram.) Sydney, 20th October, 1883. Frisco time-table approved for six months: Leave London Thursday, eighth November; leave Sydney sixth December, week later than present. Instruct London Post Office. A. Stuart.

No. 27. Sir F. D. Bell to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 6th December, 1883. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th October, transmitting me the proposed time-table for the renewed San Francisco service, which came into force on the Bth ultimo in London. I think it was quite right not to fix Saturday as the day of despatch from London; but I will ascertain whether there is any serious objection to it on the part of the Post Office for the year 1884-85. J I beg to congratulate you on the renewal of the San Francisco service. Taking it as a postal line, it is quite certain that until the Panama Canal is open nothing can touch it as far as New Zealand is concerned. I have &c. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 28. Sir F, D. Bell to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — _ 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 21st December, 1883. With reference to the question of the most convenient mail-day for London in the San Francisco service, as mentioned in your letter of the 6th October, it is one of some difficulty. I beg to enclose copy of a letter which Sir Saul Samuel and I have received from the President of the Pacific Company, dated the 27th November, in which objection is made to the days of despatch from London and San Francisco; and suggesting that the time-table may be amended, either by despatching the outward mail from London on Tuesdays, or by returning to Saturday as.the day of departure from San Francisco, which the President predicts will be the actual day of despatch under the present arrangement much more frequently than Friday. The London agent of the Pacific Company had an interview yesterday with Sir Saul Samuel and myself, when we discussed the matter. In the absence of the contract itself, and of any instructions to Sir Saul Samuel from his Government, we did not feel justified in going further than to recommend the Pacific Company to communicate directly with the two Governments, and obtain a decision upon the alteration they propose. The objection there is to making Saturday the London mail-day is one which I do not think can be got over. No one here likes to write business letters on Saturdays; and a service which required banks and merchants' offices to be kept open on the last day of the week would be very unpopular in the city, and would, in fact, defeat its own object. A point, however, of more importance is the one still under consideration at the Post Office, of abolishing the calling of outward mail steamers at Queenstown, and starting the mails direct from Liverpool. All the old factors in the postal service between England and America, which were in existence when the San Francisco service was started, are now entirely changed; and I understand the fast lines would be very glad if the calling at Queenstown were to cease. When Sir Saul Samuel and myself have received the contract we shall see the Post Office authorities without delay. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. F. D. Bell.