THE PANAMA MAIL SEEVICE.

41

E.—No. 2

commercial benefits will necessarily accrue to both the Australasian Colonies and Tahiti, by their being thus brought into immediate and regular Communication with each other. The subject matter of your communication has been carefully considered, and I am requested to inform you that the Government of this Colony is very desirous to afford to the French Establishment in Oceania a participation in the benefits to bo derived from the mail communication with Europe via Panama, maintained by New South Wales and New Zealand, as well as to encourage the commercial relations between Tahiti and New Zealand. With these views, and subject to tho concurrence of the Government of New South Wales, which must be a necessary party to any such agreement, I bog to reply as follows to your several questions : —■ 1. The correspondence from Tahiti will be sent to Europe via Panama if delivered each month in sealed mails at the Post Office at Auckland, by a French vessel, sent from Tahiti for that purpose. 2. The correspondence from Europe for Tahiti will be delivered either at tho Island of Opara to the French Resident there, or at the Post Office, Auckland, should the Government of Tahiti find it more convenient to send one vessel to deliver the outward, and receive the inward mails. 3. In the event of the Government of Tahiti being prevented at any time from sending their mails for Europe to Auckland, such mails can. be deposited at Opara, and brought from thence by mail steamers to New Zealand, in order to their being sent on to Europe by tho next vessel to Panama. 4. The following rates of postage would be payable by the postal authorities of Tahiti to the Post Office Department of New Zealand on correspondence so conveyed to and from Tahiti, viz.: — Letters not exceeding -} oz. ... ... ... ... Is. Od. each. Letters not exceeding 1 oz. ... ... ... ... 2s. Od. „ Letters not exceeding 2 oz. ... ... ... ... 4s. Od. „ Letters not exceeding 3 oz. ... ... ... ... 6s. Od. „ Letters not exceeding 4 oz. ... ... ... ... Bs. Od. ~ Letters of various weights above 4 oz. ... ... ... 2s. Od. per oz. each. Newspapers not exceeding 3 oz. ... ... ... Os. 3d. each. Newspapers not exceeding 4 oz. ... ... ... Os. 4d. ~ Books and Pattern Packets not exceeding 4 oz. ... ... Os. Bd. „ Books and Pattern Packets not exceeding 8 oz. ... ... Is. 4d. „ Books and Pattern Packets of various weights over 8 oz. ... Is. 4d. per 8 oz. each. Registered Letters —half the registration fee. Correspondence to and from Franco could be sent in closed mails, an account of the contents of such mails being supplied in a prescribed form by the Tahitian Post Office to this department. In order to the proper adjustment of accounts, it will be necessary that the correspondence for Tahiti from other countries than France should be made up in mails by the Postal Officer on board the Panama steamer, addressed to the Post Office, Tahiti; and for the same reason, the correspondence from Tahiti for other countries than France must be enclosed in a mail addressed to the Marine Post Office on board the Panama steamers. Accounts would be rendered quarterly by this department to the Tahitian Post Office, and if found correct, the amount duo should be remitted to the Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand. As the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail Company is not bound by its contract to call at Opara, it must be understood that this Government does not enter into any obligation that this call shall be made. I have no reason, however, to suppose that the existing practice of calling at Opara is likely to be disturbed. I have tho honor to enclose the letter which you were good enough to leave with me from the Postmaster-General of New South Wales, and to state, that under the terms of existing arrangements with the Government of that Colony, any agreement on tho question now under consideration will have to be made subject to its approval. I have, &c, Monsieur Villemsens, le Lieutenant de Vaisseau, John Hall, Commandant le Navire de I.M. " La Dorade." Postmaster-General.

No. 47. Copy of a Letter from A. Villemsens, Esq., to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, New Zealand. [translation.] Sir,— Wellington, 12th August, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of tho Bth instant, in which you state the conclusions that had been come to with regard to the demands that I was charged to lay before the Government of New Zealand relating to the Tahiti mail to Europe via Panama. I beg that you will convey to the members of the Government the thanks of the Commandant of the French Establishments in Oceania, and Imperial Commissioner for the Society Islands, for the courteous reception of his propositions, and for the favourable result given this question. This Postal Convention, which ought to establish direct relations between New Zealand and the Society Islands, will be carried out as soon as possible to the great satisfaction of the Imperial Commissioner. Allow me also, honorable Sir, to express personally my warmest gratitude for the facilities afforded in the accomplishment of my mission by your kind intervention. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, A. Villemsens, Lieut, de Vaisseau, Wellington. Commandant la Naviro de I.M. "La Dorade."