FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE

E.—No. 4.

32

TIME TABLE. Time-table referred to in the above written contract for " The United States, New Zealand, and Australian Alail Steam Packet Line." To leave San Feancisco on the 16th of every month, commencing on the 16th of February, 1871. „ Poet Chalmers on the Ist of every month, commencing on the Ist of April, 1871. „ Stdnet (if required) on the Ist of every month, to commence in a month to be hereafter fixed. „ Auckland on the 7th of every month, commending on the 7th of April, 1871. The hours of departure to be fixed by the Contractors till the Postmaster-General shall otherwise direct.

No. 58. The Hon. J. Vogel to His Honor the Supeeintendent, Wellington. Sib, — General Post Office, Wellington, 2nd December, 1870. In arranging the terms for a new contract for the conveyance of mails via Sau Francisco, I found it necessary that I should engage to remit to the Contractors all charges for port, light, and wharfage dues in New Zealand. The contract, as arranged, provides that the vessels of the Contractors shall call at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers. I have taken for granted that, under the circumstances, you will not raise objection to such remission of charges at the Port of Wellington; but 1 have now the honor to inform you that should you so object, the Government will be ready to make temporary arrangements for reimbursing to the Province the amount of the remitted charges. AVhen I undertook last year in making the contract with Air. H. 11. Hall, that the contract vessels should bo exempt from port, light, and wharfage charges at the Port of Auckland, the Superintendent of that Province readily acquiesced. I beg that your Honor will understand that, in giving an undertaking to remit charges some of which pass to the aid of Provincial revenue, I have not desired to assert any right of control on the part of the General Government as to those charges. It was convenient that an undertaking to remit the charges already specified should be included amongst the terms of the contract ; leaving it to be decided whether the Provinces affected would consent to forego tho amount, or whether the General Government could have to arrange to make an equivalent allowance in any case in which it might be claimed. I have, Ac, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Julius A togel. Letters of even date and tenor to their Honors the Superintendents of Canterbury and Otago.

No. 59. The Hon. W. Gisboene to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet, New South Wales. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, AVellington, 3rd December, 1870. I have the honor to inform you that the Government of New Zealand has succeeded in making arrangements for placing the San Francisco Alail Service on a permanent basis; large boats, running at a high rate of speed, being employed. The connection with New South AVales will, at first, probably be made by boats of the Australian Steam Navigation Company, and by the s.s. "Hero;" but I auticipate I shall soon be enabled to propose to you to contribute towards the subsidy payable for thirteen services a year, with a boat of not less than 1,000 tons register, to run to Sydney direct; the mails being delivered iv Sydney in thirty days from San Francisco, which will be equal to about forty-five days from England. Until certain details shall have been settled with the Contractors, I cannot make to you any specific offer; but I have the honor to propose to you that, meanwhile, you should agree to continue to pay a subsidy at the rate of £10,000 a year, or that any arrangement which may hereafter be completed between us shall be held to date back to tho commencement of the new service, and that payment shall be made by you accordingly. I take for granted that for the conveyance of your mails under the existing contract, which will terminate when twelve complete services have been performed, you will make the contribution which it has been understood you were ready to make, and for which I trust the necessary authority has already been given by your Legislature. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New South AVales. W. Gisboene.

No. 60. The Hon. W. Gisboene to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet, Tasmania. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sic,— AVellington, 3rd December, 1870. I have the honor to inform you that the New Zealand Government has arranged a contract for a new mail service between San Francisco and New Zealand, to be performed by large boats, aud at a high rate of speed. The first boat is to leave San Francisco on the 16th February next; and on her return voyage she is to leave Port Chalmers on the Ist and Auckland on the 7th April. Arraugements will be made to connect with Melbourne and with Sydney.