E.—No. 2.

No. 1. Copy of a Despatch from the Eight Hon. Earl of Cabitabvon to Governor Sir Geoege Gbet, K.C.B. Sib, — Downing Street, 22nd September, 1866. I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Board of Treasury enclosing a Minute of their Lordships' upon the subject of the postal communications between this country and the East Indies, China, Japan, and the Australian Colonies. I also annex a copy of the Eeport referred to by their Lordships from the Select Committee on East India communications which has been laid before Parliament, and of the Eeport addressed to the Postmaster-General by Captain Tyler, E.E., of his recent inspection of the railways and ports of Italy with reference to the use of the Italian route for the conveyance of the Eastern mails. I request that you will lay these Papers before your Eesponsible Advisers, in order that they may make known their wishes and views on the several questions raised in their Lordships' M inute, so far as they affect the arrangements to be made for the conduct and maintenance of the Postal Service between this country and the Australian Colonies. I have, &c, Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.8., &c. Cabnabyon.

i Enclosure in No. 1. Mr. HrsT to Sir F. G. Kogeks, Bart. Sib, — Treasury Chambers, 6th September, 1860. I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit herewith, for the information of the Earl of Carnarvon, copy of a Minute of their Lordships dated 4th instant, upon the subject of the postal communications between this country and the East Indies, China, Japan, and the Australian Colonies, and I am to request that you will move His Lordship to cause the communications therein suggested to be made to the Governments of the several Colonies adverted to therein. I am, &c, Sir F. Eogers, Bart. Geoege Waki> Httht.

Sub-Enclosure 1 to Enclosure in No. 1. Copy of Tbeasubt Minute, dated 4th September, 1866. Mt Lords Lave before them the Beport of the Select Committee of the House of Commons appointed during the last session of Parliament, " to inquire into the practical working of the present system of telegraphic and postal communication between this country and the East Indies, and who are instructed to extend their inquiry to China, Japan, Australia, and Mauritius ;" and also a Beport from the Postmaster- General dated 9th August (made in pursuance of directions contained in their Minute of the 2nd August), on the whole subject of the postal communication between this country and the East Indies, China, Japan, and the Australian Colonies. The following are the services by which at the present time the postal communication between this country and the East Indies, China, Japan, the Australian Colonies, and the Mauritius is maintained. They consist, firstly, of four services per calendar month between this country and Alexandria, via Marseilles, with four corresponding services via Southampton; Secondly, of four services through Egypt in connection with the foregoing, between Alexandria and Suez; Thirdly, of two services per calendar month between Suez and Bombay ; Fourthly, of two services per calendar month between Suez and G-alle, with in each case a packet between Galle and Calcutta, and another between Bombay and Galle, and onwards to China and Japan ; Fifthly, of one service per calendar month between Galle and Sydney (touching at King George's Sound and Melbourne, and with branches to South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, and New Zealand); and Sixthly, of one service per calendar month (maintained at the sole expense of the Mauritius G-overnment) between Galle and Port Louis.

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE MELBOURNE POSTAL CONFERENCE.