[copy.] Downing Street, 17th November, 1848.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 316, 9 June 1849, Page 3 (Supplement)

[copy.] Downing Street, 17th November, 1848.

Sir— With reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the conveyance of the mails between Singapore and Sydney, I have it in command to re» quest that you will state to Earl Grey that the Lords Comtniiaioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, adverting to the preat and rapid increasing importance of the Australian Colonies, and to the advantage, both in a commercial and social point of view, of facilitating the communication between them and the mother country, are of opinion that the question of the conveyance of the mails should not be determined solely with reference to the return which may at present be derived from the postage, but that the ulterior advantages which may accrue from the acceleration of the communication should be taken into co.isideiation, and, adverting also to the aid which may be expected from the colonies towards the expence of the undertaking, they are of opinion that they will be justified in accepting a tender made by the India and Australia Steam Packet Company for the conveyance of the mails between Singapore and Sydney in three vessels of 200 horse power for £26,000 per annum, for a period uf not less than leven years, and my Lords have caused their ap» proval of such contract being entered into to be hignified to the Board of Admiralty, provided they are iatis« fiedof the ability of the Company to perform the service. My Lords havealio directed the Board of Admiralty to be informed that, as the colony of New South Wales has already agreed to a grant of ,£6OOO for three yean in aid of this service, it will be unnecessary to make provision in the Navy Estimates for more than j£20,000 on account of the contract ; and, -with refer, ence to your letter of 24th July last, stating that the Legislative Council of New Souih Wales had decided upon such grant, I am to request you will move Lord Grey to cause initructions to be conveyed to the Governor of that colony for the payment into the commiisariat chest of such sums as will accrue from such grant in question, in order that my Lords may apply the same towards the expense of the contract. I am also to request that you will observe to Lord Grey that the question of obtaining contributions towards this expense from other colonies, which may derive benefit from the arrangements, as well as of the extension of the grant from New South Wales to the latter period of the contract, will be a subject for future consideration. I have, &c, (Signed) C. E. Trevblyan. ! Herman Menivalp, Esq.