F.—3

1875. NEW ZEALAND.

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

In continuation of Papers presented on the 8th July, 1874.

No. 1. Copy of Despatch from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Eight Hon. Sir James Feegtjsson, Bart. Sir, — Downing Street, 11th September, 1873. I have to acknowledge Sir George Arney's Despatch No. 44, of the 7th of June, enclosing a Ministerial memorandum on the subject of the postal service between this country and the Australian Colonies. I communicated a copy of your despatch and the memorandum to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and I transmit to you a copy of the answer which has been received from their Lordships. I have, Ac, Governor the Eight Hon. Sir James Fergusson, Bart., &c. Kimbeelet. Enclosure in No. 1. Mr. Stronge to the Uudee Secretary of State for the Colonies. Sic, — Treasury Chambers, 3rd September, 1873. The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have had before them your letter of the 11th ultimo, forwarding a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand relative to the postal service between this country and the Australian Colonies, from which it appears that New Zealand is perfectly satisfied with the arrangements last decided on by Her Majesty's Government. In transmitting the Governor's despatch you call attention to the last paragraph of Mr. Vogel's memorandum, which it encloses, to the effect that the New Zealand Ministers respectfully urge the claim of the colony to payment during the last three years and a half for the San Francisco Service on the principle now conceded. I am commanded to request that you will state to the Earl of Eimberley that my Lords are decidedly of opinion that they would not be warranted in entertaining the proposal submitted in Mr. Vogel's memorandum, inasmuch as they see no reason why an arrangement which is intended to take effect next year, under an entirely new state of things, should be made retrospective. My Lords would moreover remark, that they have lately decided to give up to the New Zealand Government the surplus over expenses, amounting to £1,534, which had accrued to the Imperial Post Office on the correspondence conveyed by the San Francisco route, since its commencement in March, 1870, up to the 30th June, 1872, and that the news of this concession had not reached New Zealand at the time when Mr. Vogel's memorandum was written. I have, &c, Chaeles W. Stbonge, The Under Secretary of State for the Colonies. Pro Sec.

No. 2. Copy of Despatch from Governor the Eight Hon. Sir J. Fergusson, Bart., to the Right Hon. the .Earl of Kimbeeley. My Lord, — Government House, Auckland, New Zealand, 22nd October, 1873. The Premier, as Postmaster-General, has addressed to me a ijpssjiecting the small extent to which the Imperial Government contributes toward the cost of the., mail packet service which was for sonic time maintained between Great Britain and New Zealtiu^Bk way of California. He urges that the Imperial contribution was in a much less proportion tlflw has been fixed as fair towards the cost of the new service undertaken jointly by the Governments of New South I—F. 3.