SAN EBANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

9

E.—No. 4.

five hundred pounds in respect of each vessel every thirty days after tho same has been handed over, so long as this charter shall continue -all such payments to be made in Sydney. 10. The said Charterer shall redeliver the said vessels to the Owners in Sydney, and shall pay a rateable proportion of the charter-money for any time during which such vessels respectively shall be detained after tho determination of the charter by effluxion of time, or by such notice as aforesaid. In witness whereof the seal of the said Australasian Steam Navigation Company has been affixed, and the said Hayden Hezekiah Hall has hereunto set his hand and seal, the day and year first above written. The Seal of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company was duly aflixed to this Deed at a meeting of the Board of Directors, held at the said Company's Wharf, the eleventh day of (1.5.) January, one thousand eight hundred and seventy. Present: Messieurs Piddington, Metcalf, Walker, and Miisom, in the presence of Ered. 11. Trouton. 11. 11. Hall. Signed, sealed and delivered by the said Hayden Hezekiah Hall, (1.5.) in the presence of M. Consett Stephen, Solicitor, Sydney.

No. 8. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Sydney. Sir, — Sydney, 10th January, 1870. It will take some time before any effect can be given to the proposal that New South Wales and New Zealand should mutually aid in subsidizing the proposed Torres Straits and Californian Service. In the meanwhile, the latter will I hope be started. I trust, therefore, you will see it is only right that, pending any permanent arrangement, New South Wales should contribute month by month .at the rate agreed on, namely, £10,000 for twelve services to and from San Erancisco. I shall be glad to learn what you will do. You will observe by the contract, copy of which I forward you, that the New South "Wales contribution is to cover that of Queensland, with which Colony you will be able to make such arrangement as you may agree on for t{ie carriage of its mails. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Sydney. Julius Vogel.

No. 9. The Hon. J. Robertson to the Hon. J. Vogel. (No. 11.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir, — Sydney, 10th January, 1870. I have the honor to request that you will favour me with a copy of the postal contract -entered into by you with Mr. Hall, the United States Commercial Agent at this port. I have, &c, The Hon. Julius Vogel, Esq., John Robertson. Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand, Sec, Sydney.

No. 10. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Sydney. Sir, — Sydney, 12th January, 1870. I have tho honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, asking for a copy of the agreement entered into between myself, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, and Mr. H. H. Hall, for a mail service between San Erancisco, New Zealand, and Sydney, and in reply to inform you that a copy of that document has been forwarded to you under cover of a letter of even date herewith. 1 have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, See., Sydney. Julius Vogel.

No. 11. The Hon. J. Robertson to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, 13th January, 1870. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, transmitting copy of the Contract entered into between yourself and Mr. H. IL Hall, for the proposed Californian Postal Service, and suggesting that, pending any permanent arrangement for subsidizing the same, New South Wales should contribute, month by month, at the rate agreed on, namely, ten thousand pounds for twelve services to and from San Erancisco. 2. In reply, I have the honor to inform you that this Government is not in possession of authority from Parliament admitting of a compliance with the above suggestion —at any rate, as submitted in your letter under acknowledgment. 3. In asking Parliament to sanction the arrangements already provisionally made between the Colonies of New South Wales, New Zealand, and Queensland, this Government will include provision for the whole period from the date on which the service may commence; and in the meantime, the 3