I\—4,

2

7. A continuance of the present detention of the Company's steamers at Brisbane would not, I think, be inconvenient; on the contrary, it would facilitate those business operations which it would be the desire of the New Zealand Government in making an arrangement with the Company to see established. I have, Ac, J. F. Fidman, Esq., Secretary, Julius Vogel. Eastern and Australian Steam Company (Limited).

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. Mr. J. F. Fldman, Secretary, Eastern and Australian Mail Steam Company (Limited), to the Hon. Sir J. Vogel, K.C.M.G. Sib,— 34, Leadenhall Street, E.C., 9th June, 1875. I have the honor to own receipt of your letter of sth instant, on the subject of a possible extension of this Company's line to Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers. I note that you doubt the advantage of the Singapore route as a mail line between the colony and England; but on this head I would point out that, although the delivery of letters from London may be accomplished via San Francisco in a less time than via Singapore, the latter route is free from the contingencies attendant on the former, and would offer a desirable alternative service, and serve as a postal connection between British India, China, the Archipelago, and New Zealand. I quite agree with you that the proposed connection at Brisbane may be expected to develop trade; but the line at the outset would be so purely an experimental one, that the Directors do not feel able to name the subsidy required for the service, until in possession of fuller information from the agents in Brisbane and Wellington. Under these circumstances, perhaps you will kindly let this correspondence go out by the mail on Friday, the Directors being anxious that the question shall be fully considered, and quite prepared, when sufficient data are before them, to lay a definite proposal before you. I have, Ac, J. F. Fidman, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G. Secretary.

No. 2. Memoeandum from the Hon. Sir J. Vogel to the Hon. Dr. Pollen. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., . Sib,— llth June, 1875. I left to Mr. Thomas Eussell the negotiations for a mail service via California. Even had I not had other business sufficient to very completely occupy me, I could not have brought to the mailservice question so intimate a knowledge of all that has passed during the last year or two as is possessed by Mr. Eussell, and I am certain it will be recognized that the matter could not be in abler hands. Mr. Eussell has from time to time consulted me, and I have found myself able to approve of the steps he was taking. I have received communication from the Eastern and Australian Mail Steam Company (Limited), intimating their willingness to arrange for sending their boats on from Queensland to New Zealand. I forward the correspondence to you. I do not think the Company's boats would be of much use to us for mail purposes, but it seems to me that, supposing the cost to be reasonable, they would be of great value for commercial purposes. Between New Zealand, Northern Australia, Java, and Singapore, a very large trade ought to be possible, for New Zealand could supply those countries with many articles readily consumable in them, and New Zealand could readily consume many tropical productions which those countries could supply. I have, Ac, The Hon. Dr. Pollen. Julius Vogel. I mmmm^m^^^^^mm.

No. 3. The Postmasteb-Geneeal, Queensland, to the Postmastee-Genebal, Wellington. Sib, — Postmaster-General's Department, Brisbane, 9th July, 1875. With reference to the contract now existing between the Government of Queensland and Messrs. Mactaggart, Tidman, and Company, for the conveyance of English mails via Torres Straits, I have the honor to inform you that it is proposed to arrange, if possible, for a higher rate of speed, so as to make the service more efficient. In connection with this matter, it is considered that very probably your Government might be disposed to co-operate with that of Queensland, not only to secure this, but also to provide for a branch line to run between Brisbane and Auckland. The latter service could no doubt be provided for at a reasonable additional amount, and when the whole subsidy is distributed between the colonies concerned, the cost to each would be reasonable. If your Government is disposed to assent to this proposal, which is only a preliminary one, I shall then be in a position to obtain from the contractors a tender for the combined services, which would, of course, be subject to approval of the Governments concerned.