E.—No. 1

the Island of Opara, and requesting His Excellency's assistance in procuring for the Company a survey of the latter island: I am directed to inform you that a Despatch has been received from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, stating that a man-of-war cannot be detached to Opara for this purpose, but that it would seem possible for the Company, without much inconvenience, to cause one of their own steamers to touch at the Island, and ascertain both its capabilities as regards the Company's requirements; and also whether or not it is at present inhabited, and if so, by what number of persons, and of what race, and under what jurisdiction. You will understand that you are not to infer from this that Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to establish a Colony at Opara, or to render it a subject of any expense to the British Treasury. I have, &c, G. Eliott Eliott, The Manager P.N.Z. and A.R.M. Company, Wellington. Secretary.

No. 74 Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. Eliott Eliott to Captain Benson. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 17th December, 1566. I have the honor to forward herewith extract of a letter from Mr. Crosbie Ward, from which you will perceive that the Government of New South Wales has undertaken henceforward to make monthly payments of its share of the subsidy for the Panama Service, through the Bankers of your Company in Sydney. As I understood from you some time since, that this arrangement is one which will suit the convenience of the Company, I beg to enclose the authority required by the New South Wales Government, authorizing your Bankers to give a discharge on account of the Government of New Zealand. I have, &c, G. Eliott Eliott, The General Manager P.N.Z. and A.R.M. Company, Wellington. Secretary. [extract.] " I have omitted to mention in its place, that the Government of New South Wales will bo willing to make payments of the monthly share of the subsidy, through the Bankers of the contracting Company, for convenience sake, provided that the Government of New Zealand will authorize the Bank to give a discharge on their account. The commencement of the system will await the transmission of the required authority."

No. 75. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. Euott Eliott to Captain Benson. Sib,— General Post Office, "Wellington, 24th January, 1867. "With reference to my letter of the 17th ultimo, I am directed to inform you that since that letter was written a communication has been received from the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, in which he requests the New Zealand Government to keep the Government of New South Wales informed of the monthly subsidy payable to the Company. It has been decided that the. most convenient mode of keeping the New South Wales Government supplied with this information will be to furnish the Company, as each monthly subsidy falls due, with a certificate in the annexed form, which the agents of the Company in Sydney will present to the Colonial Government when application is made for the New South Wales moiety of the subsidy. I have, &c, G. Eliott Eltott, Captain Benson, Manager P.N.Z. and A.E.M. Company. Secretary. (Copy Certificate.) General Post Office, Wellington, 17th October, 1860. I do hereby authorize the Manager of the Bank of at Sydney, to give, on the part of the New Zealand Government, to the Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales, receipts for all sums paid by such Colonial Treasurer to the credit of the Panama New Zealand and Australian Royal Mail Company, on account of the amounts duo from time to time by the Government of New South Wales to the Government of New Zealand, in respect of the subsidy for the Panama Steam Postal Service.

No. 76. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Lawson to the Hon. Joiin Hall. Panama New Zealand and Australian Royal Mail Company (Limited), Sydney, Melbourne, and New Zealand. Sir,— "Wellington, 17th December, 1866. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of letter of this day's date, intimating that Government of New South Wales has undertaken henceforward to make monthly payments of its share of the subsidy for Panama service through the bankers of this Company in Sydney, your enclosed authority for which is forwarded to Sydney this day. I have, &c, H. Lawson, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, &c, "Wellington. Sub-Manager. 0

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THE PANAMA MAIL SERVICE.