PL— No. 2.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE

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No. 20. The Hon. J. Vogel to Mr. Webb. Sir,— Melbourne, March 6th, 1872. I have the honor to point out to you that, under the arrangement which you propose, and which is now being matured with the Victorian Government, six months will elapse before effect can be given to the terms of that arrangement; and that, in the meanwhile, we shall, under the presentarrangement, be paying you at the rate of £50,000 a year. It appears to me that the agreement into which you purpose to enter with Victoria virtually supersedes the hope of our obtaining subsidies from the Australian Governments for the next six months, although, under the arrangement with the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, connections with Australia will continue to be made. I have, therefore, to request that, during the six months, you will consent to the payment being considerably reduced. I must point out that were the " Dacota " now on the line, as she ought under the original contract to have been, the probability is that we should sooner have been able to arrange with the Victorian Government. I hope, therefore, you will consider it reasonable that a reduction should be made in the payment by New Zealand, pending the commencement of the Victorian agreement. I have, &c, Wm. H. Webb, Esq., &c, &c, Melbourne. Julius Vogel.

No. 21. Mr. Webb to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sic,— Melbourne, 13th March, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your valued favour of 6th instant, in which you request this Line, for certain reasons therein given, to make a reduction in the payment now made by New Zealand, for mail service, under the contract of 7th March, 1871, and the arrangement recently made, with your approval, with the Australasian Steam Navigation Company. I am disposed to meet your request, although, as you are aware, £2,000 has to be paid to the Australasian Steam Navigation Company ; and I will agree to receive, after the payment due on the departure of the " Nebraska," from Auckland, this voyage, at the rate of £46,000 for thirteen complete services, until the agreement with the Victorian and your Government comes into effect; the payments to the Australasian Steam JN avigation Company to be deducted from the £46,000. I have, &c, W. H. Webb. Ben Holladay, The Hon. J. Vogel, Postmaster-General, New Zealand. By his Attorney, W. H. Webb.

No. 22. Mr. Webb to the Postmasters-General of Victoria and New Zealand. Gentlemen,— Melbourne, 13th March, 1872. I have the honor to ask that you will be so good as to endeavour to make a suitable agreement with the Government of Tasmania, and with the Government of South Australia, as to subsidies for the carriage of mails for those colonies respectively, by the steamers of this line ; the agreements to include such arrangements for carrying the mails to and fro between Melbourne and Hobart Town or Launceston, and Melbourne and Adelaide, as may seem to you desirable, and I agree to abide by the arrangement you make. I have, <fee, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Victoria, and U.S., N.Z., and A.M.S.S. Line, the Hon. the Postmaster-General, New Zealand. W. H. Webb.

No. 23. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Hon. C. Gavan Duffy. Sic,— Melbourne, 13th March, 1872. I hereby delegate to you the power of making agreements with the Governments of South Australia and Tasmania, for the conveyance of mails by the Californian route, and for obtaining subsidies from those Governments for such services. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Victoria. Julius Vogel.

No. 24. The Hon. M. O'Geady to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sir, — Post Office and Telegraph Department, Melbourne, 26th March, 1872. I have the honor to suggest, for your consideration, the following Time Table, in the event of the provisional contract for the California, New Zealand, and Australia Mail Line cominc into operation: — A steamer to leave San Francisco at noon on Wednesday, the 14th August, 1872, and on every fourth Wednesday thereafter, subject to waiting for the English mail five days, if