, 1874-07-08

time occupied by the voyage. Southampton to
Colon, 0ia Barbados, is to take 479 hours, and
the return 495 hours. The company is to have
the power of proposing another port in lieu of
Southampton for the landing and embarking
of the mails. The company is under a penalty
for delay, but there is no premium for being
within time as in the previous contract. The
Postmaster General takes th9 power to alter
the times of arrival and departure, but no pow
err like that in the old contract to extend the
conveyance of mails to any port or place not
specified, under which power Plymouth was
selected as the landing place some years ago.
The amount of the subsidy has been already
stated. The time fixed for the arrival of the
mails at Southampton is 10 O'Clock on the
morning of the 30th, and IL o'clock on the
morning of the 18th. This means late in the
afternoon for the delivery of letters in London,
and next day for the delivery in all the north
of England, as we'll as in Scotland and Ireland.
In short months, as well as in cases when Sun
day lntervenes, the mails will practically arrive
and depart upon the same day. This has been
made the subject of strong protests by the
west India Committee, the West Indian Asso-
cations OF Glasgow and Liverpool; the Cham
bers OF Commerce of Liverpool, Birmingham,
and Manchester, and other bodies. In fact,
there has been such a manifestation of opinion
as will probably induce the Government to re-
tain Plymouth as the landing place of the mails.
It must be added that, by the new intercoloni-
al arrangements, the time for answering let
tiers in Demerara is very much curtailed.
The following is a copy Of the Memorial,
which has been extensively and lnhuentially
signed in London, upon the subject of the new
contract:-''The Right Hon. the Lords Com
mlssioners of Her Majesty's Treasury. My
Lords, -We the undersigned merchants, bank
ers, proprietors and others interested in the
colonies and countries with which correspon-
dence is maintained by means Of the West In.
dia mail steamers beg to express our great re-
greet that no provision is made in the new con-
tract with the Royal Mail steam Packet Com
pany for continuing the practice of landing the
West India mails at Plymouth. By the selec-
ton of Plymouth instead Of Southampton there
has been a saving Of time in the delivery of
letters in London, while to Bristol, Birming-
ham, Manchester, Leeds Liverpool, Glasgow,
and the other northern towns, with the whole
Of Ireland, the convenience has been very great.
by the terms Of the new contract it is evident
that there Will be considerable delay in the de-
livery Of the mails, and the interval between
arrival and departure of the mails will be re-
stricted, 50 that in short months, as we'll as in
cases when Sunday intervenes, the mails will
practically arrive and depart upon the same day
and great Inconvenience will be caused. We
therefore humbly pray that Her Majesty's Gov
ernment will continue the arrangements with
the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, by
which Plymouth shall be retained rs the land
ing place Of The mails, and also that in other
respects The speed and efficiency of the service
shall not be impaired. We have" &c.
Since writing the above the results of the re-
presentations which have been made to the Gov
eminent have become known An amended
contract will be hid upon the table providing
for calling at Plymouth