E.—4

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to each colony contributing to such service postage received on outward mail matter conveyed by such route to the colony so contributing, less transit charges and inland British postage, provided steamers touch each way at a port in Western Australia. Similar payment will be made in case of establishment of service from Singapore or from San Francisco. Arrangement to continue for five years.

Enclosure 2 in No. 162. The Colonial Office to Sir J. Vogel. Sic, — Downing Street, 27th January, 1877. I am directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to acknowledge the receipt of the letter dated the 23rd instant, which, jointly with the Agent-General for New South Wales, you have addressed to his Lordship with regard to the question which has arisen between the Imperial Postal Authorities and the Governments of New South Wales and New Zealand, respecting the time of departure from this country of the mails via San Francisco for New South Wales and New Zealand. In compliance with your request, Lord Carnarvon will endeavour to fix a not distant day for receiving you and the Agent-General for New South Wales and Sir D. Cooper, and in the meantime his Lordship will at once communicate with the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury upon the subject of your letter. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. W. R. Malcolm.

No. 163. Mr. Page to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Sic,— General Post Office, London, 10th February, 1877. With reference to previous correspondence, I beg leave to inform you that the next despatch of mails for Australia and New Zealand via San Francisco will take place from London on the evening of Saturday, the 10th of March. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. W. J. Page.

No. 164. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Sic,— 16th February, 1877. I have the honor to inform you that, in consequence of a request which we made, as explained in my letter to you of 9th February, Lord Carnarvon received the Agent-General for New South Wales, Sir Daniel Cooper, and myself to-day, by appointment. The Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. W. H. Smith, and Mr. Tilley and Mr. Pago of the Post Office, were also present. We severally urged on Lord Carnarvon and Mr. Smith our views, and represented the disastrous effects on the service that the present monthly engagement of slow steamers for the Atlantic passage would occasion. Lord Carnarvon seemed to be favourably impressed with what we said, and when we left him it appeared that his Lordship was about to discuss the matter with Mr. Smith, Mr. Tilley, and Mr. Page. I am not without hope that our representations may result favourably. I have, <fee, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 165. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey, Sydney, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey, AVellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, Brd April, 1877. I foewaed copy of telegram just received from London, dated twenty-ninth March: —" Outward 'Frisco mails, Inman, Thursday, sth April. Day still fixed month by month, but Inman promises do all in his power maintain Thursday departure. Inform New Zealand. —Forster, Vogel." Colonial Seceetaey. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

No. 166. The Hon. D. Reid to the Agent-Geneeal. Sic— General Post Office, Wellington, 27th April, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 16th February last, intimating that, in company with the Agent-General for New South Wales and Sir Daniel Cooper, you had been accorded an interview with the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the question of the San Francisco Service, and had represented to his Lordship the disastrous effects that would result to the service through the present monthly engagement of slow steamers for the Atlantic passage. I trust the efforts of the Agent-General for New South Wales, Sir Daniel Cooper, and yourself in this matter may result favourably, and that the service may speedily be placed on a satisfactory footing alike to the colonies and the British public I have, &c, Sir J. Vogel, K.C.M.G., D. Reid, Agent-General for New Zealand. (for the Postmaster-General).