D.—No. 1. B

In communicating with the several Colonial Governments on this subject, the PostmasterGeneral reouests that Mr. Card well will be good enoug-h to state that, for the present, the concurrence only of the respective Governments in the proposed regulations is asked for, and that the time for carrying the new system into operation will be left for future arrangement. I am, &c, F. Hill. Sir Frederic Rogers, Bart., &c, &c, &c, Colonial Office. No. 12. LETTER TO POSTMASTER GENERAL, VICTORIA, RESPECTING POSTAGE ON LETTERS BROUGHT TO NEW ZEALAND BY MAIL STEAMER BETWEEN VICTORIA AND OTAGO. New Zealand General Post Office, Wellington, 4th July 1865. Sir,— My attention has been directed to the fact that a considerable number of letters emanating from Victoria are brought to this Colony by the mail steamers subsidized by this Government to run between Victoria and Otago. It is unnecessary to point out that these steamers have also been of no little commercial as weil as postal advantage to Victoria, and it is to be expected that both these advantages would he materially increased on the establishment of the mail route with Great Britain via. Panama. I have the honor to inform you that it is in contemplation to withdraw the subsidy hitherto granted to the steamers running between Victoria and Otago; but before coming to a final determination in the matter, I should be glad to learn whether the Government of Victoria would be willing to contribute towards the subsidy paid for this service in the event of its being continued, and if so, from what date, and to what amount. I have, &c, J. Richardson, Postmaster General. The Honorable the Postmaster General, Melbourne. No. 13. CONTRACT WITH THE OTAGO STEAM-SHIP COMPANY FOR INTER COLONIAL SEUYTCE MELBORUNE AND OTAGO. Articles of Agreement made this sixteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-lour, between the Otago Steam Ship Company (Limited) of Dunedin, in the Colony of New Zealand, and who are hereinafter styled " The Contractors," of the one part and' Her Majesty's Postmaster General of the Colony of New Zealand, on behalf of the said Colony, in pursuance of the provisions of ''The New Zealand Post Office Act, 1858), of the other part,—Witness that, for the considerations hereinafter mentioned, the said Contractors, for themselves, their heirs executors, and administrators covenant, and each of them for himself, his neirs, executors, and administrator;', covenants with the said Postmaster General and his successors in office as follows: 1. The steams-hips " Albion" and '* Hero" shall, at the commencement of the contract service hereby provided for, and during the continuance of the same, be tight, staunch, and strong, properly manned and equipped for sea, and shall be employed, as hereinafter mentioned, in the mail service, between Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, and Port Chalmers, in the Colony of New Zealand. 2. One of the said steam-ships shall, within twenty-four hours after the arrival of the European mail at the Port of Melbourne aforesaid, in each month, leave that port for Port Chalmers aforesaid, and shall, unless prevented by tempestuous weather, call at the Bluff Harbour to land and receive mails ; and shall deliver the mails at Port Chalmers within one hundred and fifty-six hours Iroin the hour of departure from Melbourne : Provided that neither of the said steam-ships shall be required to wait at Melbourne for the European mail more than * twenty-six hours after its due date for arrival there, and that oue of the said steam-ships shall leave Melbourne for Port Chalmers at the expiration of that time, unless detained at Melbourne by the said Postmaster General, or his agent, to wait the arrival of the English mail there, for any time not exceeding a further period of ninety-six hours. 3. One of the said steam ships (tiie *' Albion," if required by the said Postmaster General) shall

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PAPERS RELATING TO NEW ZEALAND MAIL SERVICE.