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No. 35. Mr. Lambton to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir,— General Post Office, Sydney, 13th May, 1875. I am directed to forward herewith, for the information of the Postmaster-General of New Zealand, copy of a communication which has been received by this department from the postal authorities at Noumea, respecting the making of improved arrangements for the transmission of mails to and from New Caledonia. I am also to enclose copy of the reply sent by this office, which, it will be seen, relates in part to the use of the San Francisco Service by the New Caledonia Post Office, and suggests an arrangement in that respect, subject to the concurrence of the Postmaster-General of your colony. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Secretary.

Enclosure 1 in No. 35. Mons. B. Monxkt to the Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney. Sic, — Noumea, 10th March, 1875. Our new Postmaster-General for New Caledonia, very anxious to improve, and above all, to enlarge postal relations between us and the cities of the metropolitan continents, directs me to inform you that, to satisfy the repeated demands of our tradesmen for multiplying the communications, he is disposed to give a mail to every vessel going to Sydney or Newcastle, and specially to the " Wentworth." But the Postmaster-General here wants to know, before proceeding further, if, with our regular and usual French stamps, you could be able to send our letters in any directions, on the continental wav, free of charges, exactly as you do for our regular monthly mail ; or if the combination on which we have acted upon for this present mail would suit you better, and be according to your regulations. Also, would you take charge, in this same way, of registered letters to be delivered over sea? "We hope, Sir, to receive your answer by first opportunity with all necessary explanations, and to be enlightened on this important matter. Further, will you be kind enough to favour us with a general table of your taxes for every part of the world where you keep postal communication ? By so doing, Sir, and waiting for your esteemed reply, you will greatly oblige, Tours, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney. B. Monlky.

Enclosure 2 in No. 35. Mr. Lambton to the Postmaster-General, New Caledonia. Sib— General Post Office, Sydney, Bth May, 1875. "With reference to the subject of your letter dated the 10th March last, I have the honor to inform you that this department will of course undertake to forward from Sydney, by whatever opportunity they may be marked, closed (sealed) mails for all parts of the world which may be sent here from New Caledonia. With regard to closed mails which may require to be conveyed between Sydney and San Francisco, or vice versa, by the mail service maintained by this colony and New Zealand, a temporary arrangement has already been made between this and the London Post Office, on behalf of the French Post Office, that this department is to be paid at the rate of 1 f. 20 c. on letters, and 1 f. per kilogramme on printed papers, conveyed between New Caledonia and France by this line of packets; and the Post-master-General of this colony is willing, if you desire it, to convey by this line closed mails between New Caledonia and other places on the same terms, this arrangement being also only a temporary one and to be subject to the concurrence of the Postmaster-General of New Zealand. I am to state that this department is advised that the payments in respect of the mails between New Caledonia and France will be accounted for to the London Office by France, and will be credited to this colony by London ; but in the case of mails to and from other places than France which you may desire to send by the steamers running between Sydney and San Francisco, you will perhaps be good enough to account direct to this office. Some forms for entering the particulars of the mails are enclosed. You will of course understand that loose letters, bearing only French postage stamps, cannot be forwarded to other countries through New South "Wales, and any letters of this class intended for delivery within this colony would be surcharged in this office, for collection on delivery, at the rate of 6d. per half-ounce. I also forward separately a copy of the New South "Wales Postal Guide, pages 86 to 93 of which contain the table you inquire for, showing the postage rates from Sydney to every part of the world; and I beg to assure you that I shall be happy to afford you any further information in my power. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, The Postmaster-General, New Caledonia. Secretary.