33054-007245

Commissioner of Crown Lands to the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands respecting the conveyance of Government despatches to Drayton - Burgurrah [?] Balonne River January 9. 1851 - Sir I have the honor to inform You, that by letter from J. [?] G. Ewer Esq. J. P. dated 16th:. December last, I received an intimation that "the “Subscribers to the Private Mail (from Drayton to Wambo) "think the Government are “treating them very bad in "not taking up the line “themselves, and from the "occasional weight of the "Maranoa Mail - it would "require a considerable sum “more to satisfy the contractor, “so that under the circumstances “it is only fair, the Government "despatches should be declined "altogether" - I have received further information, that the Subscribers would refuse the payment if their subscriptions in the event of any Government letters being conveyed by the Post [Marginalia] 51/2165 - 30th Jany, 1851 - 5 [?]. 51/9 30 [...] Is not this provided for by a late application The Government has already contributed Ten Pounds towards the maintenance of the Mail from Wambo to Drayton. This report may I presume be subsmitted with the suggestion that the matter is one for reference to the Post Master General G. [?] B 5. Febry. The Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands [...] Sydney Colonial Secretary 26th. Feby 51 [...]

Post-I take the earliest opportunity of apprizing you of this determination which will cause me serious inconvenience, as I shall now have to send to Drayton for despatches which I cannot do more than once in six weeks_ being deprived during the time of the service of horses necessarily required upon other duty . for which this labor [insert will have] unfitted them even on their return _ I have been informed that any private letter or papers will be conveyed to me as usual-and a subscription list has been forwarded to me for private contribution which I shall decline to give it not being my intention under such conditions to avail myself of the services of this Post- I have now to solicit such assistance as the government may deem most convenient and proper to afford to me-- I have thehonor to be Your most Obedient servant Roderick Mitchell Commt