D.—No. 1. A

Enclosure to No. 22. New South Wales, No. 29, Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, Thursday, 20th April, 1865. 8. Steam Postal Communication with England via Panama (Order No. 1 of Government business) :—On motion of Mr. Cowper, the Speaker left the Chair, and the House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole for the consideration of the propriety of agreeing to the proposal of the New Zealand Government, in reference to Steam Postal Communication with England via Panama. The Chairman reported the following Resolution :— Resolved: —That it is expedient to agree to the proposal made by the Government of New Zealand, for establishing Steam Postal Communication with England by way of Panama. Mr. Cowper then moved, that this Resolution be now agreed to. Question put. House divided. Ayes, 34. Noes. 21. Mr. Cowper, Mr. Pemell, Mr. Forster, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Smart, Mr. Morrice, Mr. Macpherson, Tellers Mr. Arnold, Mr. Terry, Mr. PiiWington, Mr. Robertson, Mr. Caluwel), Mr. Phelps, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Darvall, Mr. Hart, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Martin. Mr. Alexander, Mr. Joseph Mr. White, Mr. Parkes, Mr. Kemp, Mr. Lee, Mr. Stimpson, Mr. Neale, Mr. Landale, Mr. EgMi, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Macleay, Mr. Graham, Dr. Lang, Mr. Dignam, Mr. Hurley, Mr. Samuel, Mr. Cunneen, Mr. Sutherland, Mr. Byrnes, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Farnell, Mr. Forlonge, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Garrett, Mr. Josephson, Mr. Driver, Mr. Brown, T „ Alr- De Sal'9 > Mr. Cummings, xeueis. Mr peering, Mr. Donnelly, Mr. Burdekin, Mr. Mate, Mr. Oatley, Mr. Tighe. Mr. Gordon, No. 23. Brisbane, March 25th, 1865. Sir, — I have the honor to enclose for the consideration of the Ministers of Queensland a copy of a Memorandum addressed by me to the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, which will, I trust, sufficiently explain the nature of the proposals which I am authorised to submit on behalf of the New Zealand Government to the several Governments of the Australian Colonies, in reference both to the Panama service recently contracted for by the New Zealand Government, and to future postal arrangements between the Australian Colonies and Great Britain. As in the event of the majority of the Colonies concurring in the arrangements now submitted to them, it will, in order to give effect to them, be necessary to open up negotiations with the Imperial Government, it b-comes extremely desirable that the decision of the Government of each Colony should be made known with as little delay as possible. Believing that the interests of the three Colonies of Queensland, New South Wales, and New Zealand are, as far as postal communication with Europe is concerned, identical, I am not unnaturally anxious to ascertain the views of your Government before I leave, for I need scarcely say that should ■ you dtcide upon co-operation with New Zealand and New South Wales, such a decision will very materially stregthen my hands in negotiating with the Governments of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. I have, &c, 1. E. Featheeston. The Honorable R. G. W. Herbert, Colonial Secretary, Queensland. No. 24. Colonial Secretary's Office, Brisbane, 27th March, 1865. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 25th instant, enclosing

14

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE