F.—2,

1874. NEW ZEALAND.

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE, (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO).

In continuation of Papers presented on 19t7i September, 1873.

No. 1. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, "Wellington. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 13th June, 1873. In continuation of the correspondence which has taken place between the Colonial Office and myself relative to the San Francisco mail service, I have the honor to forward herewith, for the information of the Government, copies of Lord Kimberley's letter of 17th May, 1873, with enclosure, and of my reply thereto.* You will observe that while I express my concurrence in the principle of Lord Kimberley's present proposal, namely, that the Imperial Government should afford assistance to each of the three postal services recommended by the Australasian Conference, I refrained from expressing any opinion as to the money part of the question. My object throughout these protracted negotiations has been to have the San Francisco service placed, so far as the Imperial Government is concerned, precisely on the same footing as that via Suez. This accomplished, and Webb's line being out of the way, there cannot, I apprehend, be any serious difficulty in establishing an efficient service, even if New Zealand, as hitherto, is obliged to maintain it single-handed. But as I gather from the correspondence you forwarded to me, that the inefficiency of Webb's line was the chief ground on which New South Wales refused to join New Zealand, it may reasonably be expected that the two colonies will now co-operate in the same way that they did in establishing and maintaining the Panama line. I may add that I have reason to believe that the Government of the United States may be induced to afford material assistance when once assured that the service will be efficiently performed. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Agent-General.

P. No. 3, 1873, Nos. 19, 20, 22, and 43, and enclosures. P. No. 6, 1873, No. 1, and enclosures. *Not received.

Enclosure in No. 1. Mr. Heebeet to the Agent-General. Sir,— Downing Street, 17th May, 1873. I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a telegram which his Lordship caused to be sent at a late hour last evening to the Governors of the Australasian Colonies. It was not possible for you to be made acquainted with the decision of Her Majesty's Government, as conveyed in this telegram, before the closing of the outward mail, and his Lordship has been obliged to defer, until next month, his Despatch on the subject of the mail service between this country and Australia. I have, <fee, Dr. Featherston. Eobert G. W. Herbert.

P. No. 6,1873, No. 6.

No. 2. . . The Hon. J. Vogel to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey, New South "Wales. Sir, — General Government Offices, "Wellington, 27th September, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 30th August, enclosing copy of an extract from a telegram received by you from the Hon. Saul Samuel, in London, stating the sub--I—E. 2.

F. No. 3c, 1873, No. 1.