E.—3

1874. NEW ZEALA ND.

SUEZ MAIL SERVICE, (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO.) In continuation of Papers presented 5th August, 1873.

Presented to loth Souses of the General Assembly by command of Sis Excellency.

No. 1. The Hon. J. G. Fbancis to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet, New Zealand. Victoria, Sib, — Chief Secretary's Office, Melbourne, 30th September, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, conveying the acceptance by the Government of New Zealand of the proposal made in my letter of the 23rd ultimo, viz., to carry the mails of that colony between Melbourne and Galle, and vice versa, for the postage—your Government to provide for their conveyance between Melbourne and New Zealand. Also, enclosing a memorandum from the Secretary to the Post Office, suggesting the adoption of a plan for taking the account of the letters, &c, similar to that adopted by the Imperial authorities with regard to the correspondence by the Panama Service. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. J. G. Feancis.

F. 6a., 1873, No. 3.

No. 2. The Hon. J. G. Francis to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet, New Zealand. Victoria, Sie, — Chief Secretary's Office, Melbourne, sth November, 1873. Keferring to your letter of the 16th September last, I have now the honor to inform you that, in pursuance of the recommendation of the Minister in charge of the Post Office Department, this G-overmnent is prepared to adopt your suggestion, that the postal accounts between Victoria and. the other colonies for the conveyance of their mails, shall be settled on the basis of the weight of the correspondence forwarded, charging Is. 7d. per oz. for letters, Is. 6d. per lb. for packets, and 6d. per lb. for newspapers, net weight. I have also the honor to inform you, that I have addressed a letter to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary of New South "Wales, urging that it would be a great convenience if the same course were followed in the settlement of the postage accounts for the transmission of correspondence under the mail contract for the service between Sydney and San Francisco. My colleague states that, to carry the proposed system into effect, a monthly statement would be required from the General Post Office, "Wellington, of correspondence despatched to Melbourne for transmission via Galle, together with a statement of the correspondence received by the inward mails. This would admit of quarterly settlements, subject to adjustment upon statements furnished by the Imperial Post Office. This plan will come into operation at the commencement of the new service, Ist January, 1873. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. J. G-. Fbancis.

F. 6a., 1873, No. 3.

No. 3. The Hon. D. Pollen to the Hon. the Chief Seceetaet, Melbourne. New Zealand, Siß> — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 18th May, 1874. I have the honor to enclose a memorandum from my colleague, the Postmaster- General, upon the subject of the sailing of the Suez mail steamer of April, from Port Phillip, without the mail from New Zealand. I—E. 3.