R-Jfa. 4.

2. In reply, I have the honor to inform you that when results and circumstances shew that it would be expedient to call for tenders for the purpose of establishing a mail lino to San Francisco, which would meet the requirements of all those Colonies which might be expected to join in the scheme. New South Wales will not be indisposed to invite the co-operation of New Zealand. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. John Eobertson. Wellington, N.Z.

No. 105. Air. Price to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Brisbane, 21st July, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th of May last, on the subject of a contract entered into by the Government of New Zealand with Messrs. Webb and Holladay, for the establishment of a postal service between New Zealand and England, by way of San Francisco, framed with the view of admitting the Australian Colonies to a participation in the service, and I beg to state that it has been determined, after due consideration, that it is not expedient to join in the contract undertaken by the New Zealand Government for tho postal service in the way proposed. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, T. L. Aluerat Price, Wellington, N.Z. In the absence of the Colonial Secretary.

No. 102 of this series.

No. 106. Earl Kimberley to Governor Sic G. F. Bowen. Sic, — Downing-street, 13th Alarch, 1871. With reference to your despatch No. 142, of the 23rd October, and to mine of the 27th January, No. 14, on the subject of a proposed contribution from New Caledonia to the expense of the mail service between Auckland and Europe, via San Francisco, I transmit to you a copy of a note which has been received through the Foreign Office from the French Government, declining for the present to entertain tho proposal which Lord Lyons was instructed to make them. I have, Ac, Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. Kimbeelet.

No. 62 of this year's Despatches. No. 52 of this year's Despatches. Enclosure in No. 60 of this year' 3 Despatches.

No. 107. Mr. Wm. Jas. Page to the Postmaster General. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 4th May, 1871. I have received a communication from Air. Vogel, in which he states that, according to the arrangements which he has just made for carrying on the mail service between San Francisco and New Zealand, the mails should be despatched from this country on every fourth Thursday, commencing from this day; and I beg to inform you that notice of this change has been given to the public, and the necessary instructions have been issued for the guidance of the officers of this Department. As the mails will now leave on a fixed day of the week, and it is understood that the Colonial mail-packet will, in all cases await their arrival at San Francisco, there will no longer be any necessity for making two preliminary despatches from this country, as hitherto, and the officers of this Department have accordingly been instructed to make up only one mail for New Zealand in future, accompanied by a single letter-bill, instead of sending three mails, each with a separate letter-bill. I have, Ac, The Postmaster-General, AVellington. Wm. Jas. Page.

No. 108. The Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen. Sir, — Downing-street, 17th Alay, 1871. I transmit to you, for your information, a copy of a notice which has been received from the General Post Office respecting the mail service to New Zealand, via San Francisco. I have, Ac, Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.AI.G. Kimberley.

Enclosure in No. 108. Arrangements have been made for despatching the mails for New Zealand, via San Francisco, once in every four weeks in future. The next despatch will take place from London on the evening of Thursday, the Ist June, and, thenceforward, mails will be sent from London ou every fourth Thursday. On each occasion, mails will also be made up in Liverpool on the same day as in London, and in Dublin on the following day. By command of the General Post Office, Bth Alay, 1871. Postmaster-General.

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