D.—No. ITS.

It lias been left to the Government of New Zealand to adopt similar arrangements as regards letters sent from the Colony to the United Kingdom, or to maintain the present rates, as they may think fit. It may be expected that for some time after the altered rates of postage are carried into operation and until the new arrangements become generally known, many letters will be posted in this country, paid, at the present rates, and in order to avoid the necessity of opening and returning such letters for the deficient postage, the Postmaster-Gleueral proposes for a time to have them forwarded as insufficiently paid, charged with the deficiency, and a fine of one rate in addition, according to the practice at present pursued with regard to insufficiently paid letters. I am, Ac, F. Hill. The Postmaster-General. Ac, Ac, Ac. Auckland. No. 10. New Zealand General Post Office, Auckland, August 25th. 1864. Sib,— M 1 have the honor, by direction of the Postmaster-General of New Zealand, to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. F. Hill's letter quoted in the margin, (569 P., 18th June, 1864) stating that Her Majesty's Government had come to the determination to raise, on the Ist July last, the postage upon letters'sent from the United Kingdom to New Zealand by packet via Southampton, from sixpence to one shilling the half ounce; and via Marseilles from tenpence toone shilling and fourpence the half ounce. It is trot intended to make any alteration in the rates of postage on letters despatched from this Colony to the United Kingdom, as the New Zealand Government is of opinion that whilst no doubt it is desi te the Postal Revenue to the expenditure, this result is more likely to be obtained by encouraging an increase in the amount of correspondence, than by increasing the rate of postage. No doubt the iuci cased rate of postage will make but little difference in the number of business letters, but on the large class of friendly correspondence, especially between poor emigrants and their generally poorer home friends, the alteration in postage will have a considerable influence; it will tend to sever rhe ties between the colonists and the mother country, and to lessen that community of feeling which it is desirable to cultivate between Great Britain and her Colonies—results which will bo dearly bought by the m\ tag of a few thousand pounds. The Postmaster-General would be glad to hear that Her .Majesty's Government have been induced to reconsider their decision in this matter, which is in effect a reversal of the enlightened and successful policy initiated by Sir Rowland Hil! in the penny postage system of Great Britain. I. have, &c, G. Eliott Eliott, The Secretary, General Post Office, Secretary. London. No. 11. General Post Office. London, 19th July, 1864. Snt — In a letter dated the 18th ultimo, I informed you, with reference to a previous communication to the Government of New Zealand, that on the Ist instant, the postage of letters sent by packet from the United Kingdo Australian Colonies and New Zealand, via Southampton, would be raised from sixpence to one shilling, a corresponding increase of charge being made on letters sent via Marseilles. Simultaneously it was intended to reduce from sixpence to fourpence the postage of letters forwarded to »lonies by private ship. I am nc-.v directed by the Postmaster-General to acquaint you that, in consequence of the objections which have been strongly urged, on behalf of the Colonies, to the proposed augmentation of the postage, it has beeij determined, until there has been time for further communication on the subject with the Australian Colonial Governments, to suspend the measure. The old rites of postage will therefore continue for the present to be collected in this country. I am. Ac, F. Hill. The Postmaster-General, Ac, Ac, Ac Auckland. No. 12. General Post Office. Auckland, 30th Sept., 1864. Si it —. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter noted in the margin (726 P. 19th July, 1564) stating that in consequence of the objections which have been strongly urged against the

14

PAPERS RELATING TO THE