3

A.—2

The Cape Government, though accepting the principle of an Imperial penny postage rate, have postponed adopting it pending a settlement of the apportionment of the mail subsidy as between this country and that colony. It is hoped that a settlement may be shortly arrived at, and that the adhesion of Jamaica, Malta, and Mauritius will follow before long. The warrant also extends to officers on board Her Majesty's ships the privilege already accorded to seamen of posting letters on board ship at the penny rate, such letters being despatched in closed mails only. And I enclose a copy of instructions which have been issued by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, with a view to preventing the abuse of this privilege by the posting on board Her Majesty's ships of letters from persons not entitled to the privilege. I have only to add, in conclusion, that it would be a matter of much gratification to Her Majesty's Government to see the whole British Empire included in the Imperial penny postal arrangement, and an impetus thus given to mutual intercourse between the different members of the Empire, which would quicken and strengthen that community of feeling and interest which now binds them together. I am addressing a similar despatch to the Governors of the other Australasian Colonies, and am communicating copies of the despatch to the AgentsGeneral of the Australasian Colonies in this country who represented their Governments at the London Conference. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure No. 1. Statutory Eulbs and Oedbes, 1898 (No. 1113). Post Office (Foreign and Colonial Post). —The Foreign and Colonial Post (Amendment No. 3) Warrant, 1898; dated 22nd December, 1898. We, the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, in exercise of all powers given to us by the Post Office Acts, or any of them, and of all other powers enabling us in this behalf, do, by this warrant, made on the representation of Her Majesty's Postmaster-General (testified by his signing the same), order, direct, and declare as follows: — 1. This warrant shall be read as one with the Foreign and Colonial Post Warrant, 1892 (hereinafter referred to as " the principal warrant "), and all warrants amending the same. 2. (1.) On every British letter there shall be charged and paid (in lieu of the rates of postage payable under the principal warrant) the following rates, that is to say :— On every letter not exceeding f oz. in weight, Id. On every letter exceeding -J oz. in weight, for every \ oz. or fractional part of \ oz., Id. (2.) A British letter means and includes — (a.) An outgoing letter posted in the United Kingdom for transmission to any country or place specified in the schedule hereto, or to any of Her Majesty's ships of war, whether on the high seas or in any port or place outside the United Kingdom. (b.) A letter sent from any of Her Majesty's ships of war, whether on the high seas or in any port or place outside the United Kingdom, to any place in the United Kingdom, or to any country or place specified in the schedule hereto. (c.) A letter deposited in a letter-box on board a British ship, or in the hands of the commander of such ship, when on the high seas or in a port in any country or place specified in the schedule hereto, for transmission to the United Kingdom or to any country or place specified in the said schedule. (3.) The rates fixed by this clause in relation to letters to and from Her Majesty's ships of war shall apply only to letters transmitted in closed mails to or from such ships. 3. Where an incoming letter liable to be charged with the rates of postage specified in this warrant is redirected to any country or place to which such rates do not apply, there shall be charged and paid on such letter an amount which, together with the amount chargeable thereon under this warrant, shall be equal to the rates of postage on letters charged and paid under the principal warrant. i. Clause 1 of the Foreign and Colonial Post Amendment Warrant, 1895, is hereby repealed, and that -warrant may be cited as " The Foreign and Colonial Post (Amendment No. 2) Warrant, 1895." 5. This warrant may be cited as "The Foreign and Colonial Post (Amendment No. 3) Warrant, 1898." 6. This warrant shall come into operation on the 25th day of December, 1898. Dated this 22nd day of December, 1898. W. H. Fishes, Stanley, Two of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury. Norfolk, Her Majesty's Postmaster-General.