D.—No. 18.

I must further observe that your Honor is in error when you state that Nelson is at this moment the least favored port in New Zealand as regards her mail service, and that the English mail arrives later and leaves earlier than formerly. Under the present arrangement the English mail leaves Nelson on the 12th of each month, whilst it leaves Napier on the 6th, Auckland on the Bth, and New Plymouth on the 9th. The English mail also, if it is true to time at Sydney, arrives at Nelson on the 21st, being earlier than in any port in New Zealand, except Invercargill and Dunedin ; should the English mail be somewhat late at Sydney it arrives via Auckland, at Nelson on the 30th. It would appear therefore that Nelson receives her legitimate share of the postal advantages in comparison with those of other ports in New Zealand. There is no doubt however that the proposed line if effectively carried out would give superior postal accommodation, but the General Government has not at its disposal funds available for the purpose of extending the present Colonial Steam Service. Moreover if the General Government determined to adopt an additional service of this kind, public tenders for it would have to be called, and arrangements would have to be made for terminating the present steam service between Sydney and Nelson. The Government could not undertake to grant fresh subsidies without the previous sanction of the General Assembly. I have, Ac, His Honor the Superintendent, Willilm Fox. Nelson. CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING A STEAM SERVICE PROM SINGAPORE TO SYDNEY VIA TORRES STRAITS. No. 34. Queensland, Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir,— Brisbane", 12th September, 1864. I do myself the honor to request that you will acquaint me whether the Government of New Zealand is disposed to co-operate in the establishment of a line of Mail Stsamers running from Singapore to Sydney, via Torres Straits. 2. This subject, which has long been under the serious consideration of the Government of Queensland has now been again brought prominently forward by the recent determination ofthe Colonies of Victoria and South Australia to cause if possible the discontinuance of all communication with Western Australia by the steamers of the Peninsular and Oriental Company. 3. The Government of New South AVales is prepared to give favorable consideration to a definite proposal for the establishment of a Monthly Service via Singapore, which would appear to offer considerable advantages to New Zealand even in the event of the Panama route being also brought into use. 4. I have the honor to request you will reply to this communication at your early convenience. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Robert G. AY. Herbert. New Zealand. No. 35. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sib,— Auckland, 30th Sept., 1864. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 175 dated the 12th instant, enquiring whether the Government of New Zealand is disposed to co-operate in the establishment of a line of Mail Steamers running from Singapore to Sydney, via Torres Straits. The ad'-antages to accrue to New Zealand from the establishment of this line are not very obvious to the Colonial Government, but your communication will be submitted to the General Assembly next session when the whole subject of Steam communication with Europe is sure to be fully discussed. I have, Ac, William Fox. The Hon. Colonial Secretary, Queensland. No. 36. Contract with I.C.R.M. Company for Inter-provincial Steam Service. Memorandum of Agreement, made this Thirty-first day of March, Eighteen hundred and sixty-four, between the Honourable the Postmaster-General of New Zealand on the one part and

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NEW ZEALAND MAIL SERVICE.