FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE CONVEYANCE OF MAILS VIA SUEZ, (In continuation of Papers presented 9th July, 1867.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1867 Session I, E-03a

E.—No. 3a.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE CONVEYANCE OF MAILS VIA SUEZ, (In continuation of Papers presented 9th July, 1867.)

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OP THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY COMMAND OF HIS EXCELLENCY.

WELLINGTON.

1867.

E.—No. 3a

No. 10. Copy of a Despatch from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir George Geet, K.C.B. (No. 7.) Sie,— Downing Street, 13th April, 1867. My predecessor referred to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, a copy of a Despatch of the 7th December, signed in your absence by the Colonial Secretary of New Zealand, enclosing a Memorandum by the local Postmaster-General, on the subject of the contribution of New Zealand, towards the cost of the Steam Postal Service via Suez. I have the honor to transmit to you for your information, and for that of your Responsible Advisers a copy of the letter which has been received in reply, enclosing a copy of a Report upon the subject from the Postmaster-General. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. Grey, K.C.B. Buckingham and Chandos.

Enclosure 1 in No. 10. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. "W". Hunt, to Sir F. Rogees, Bart. (5049.) Sie, — Treasury Chambers, 4th April, 1867. With reference to your letter of the 7th February last, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit herewith copy of a Report dated 23rd ultimo, from the Postmaster-General, relative to the amount which the Colony of New Zealand has been called upon to contribute as its share of the moiety of the cost of maintaining the Mail Packet Service between this country and Australasia, and I am to request that in laying the same before the Duke of Buckingham you will move His Grace to cause a copy of it to be communicated to the Government of New Zealand. I have, &c, Sir Frederick Rogers, Bart. Geobge Waed Hunt.

Enclosure 2 in No. 10. Copy of a Letter from His Grace the Duke of Monteose to the Loeds Commissionebs of the Treasury. (No. 2595.) Mt Loeds,— General Post Office, 23rd March, 1867. In returning the letter from the Colonial Office, and its enclosure, which your Lordship* referred to me on the 11th ultimo, relative to the amount which the Colony of New Zealand has been called upon to contribute as its share of the moiety of the costs of maintaining the Mail Packet Service between this country and Australasia: I have the honor to state that having considered the circumstances set forth in the Memorandum of the Postmaster-General of New Zealand, I concur in the opinion expressed by that functionary, that the Colony has been overcharged, both on account of the number of letters forwarded by the route of Suez having been over estimated, and also in respect of the sea-conveyance between Melbourne and Sydney. In preparing the account showing the amounts chargeable against the Australian Colonies and New Zealand, for the year 1867, due regard has been had to these points. I am of course unable to state with precision what number of letters, &c, will be conveyed between this country and New Zealand during the current year; but should it be found that the actual number of letters transmitted via Suez differ materially from the number given in the account, the discrepancy can be adjusted in a subsequent account. I have, &c, The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. Monteose.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE CONVEYANCE 0E MAILS VIA SUEZ.

E.—No. 3a.

No. 11. Copy of a Despatch from His Grace the Duke of Buckutghaji to Governor Sir Geoege Grey, K.C.B. (No. 14.) S rE; Downing Street, 23rd April, 1867. I referred to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury a copy of your Despatch No. 6, of the 12th of January, enclosing a further Memorandum by your Responsible Advisers on the subject of the Mail Packet Service, and I have the honor to enclose, for your information, and in order that it may be laid before your Advisers, a copy of the letter which has been received in reply. I have, &c., Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B. Btjckixgham a>-d Chakdos.

Enclosure in No. 11. Cojiy of a Letter from Mr. Stronge to Sir P. Rogers, Bart. Sir,— Treasury Chambers, 20th April, 1867. I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit to you copy of a letter from the Postmaster-General, dated 10th April, and I am to request that you will move the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos to cause the same to be communicated to the Governor of New Zealand for his information with reference to his Despatch of 12th January last, relative to an overcharge made against that Colony on account of the Packet Service, a copy of which Despatch was forwarded to this Board in your letter of 19th ultimo. I have, &c., Sir P. Rogers, Bart. Chables W. Strouge.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 11. Copy of a Letter from His Grace the Duke of Montrose to the Loeds Commissioners of the Treasury. (3265.) My Lords,— General Post Office, 10th April, 18G7. I have the honor to return herewith the papers which your Lordships referred to me on the 22nd ultimo, relative to the charge raised against the Colony of New Zealand in respect of the Australian Mail Packet Service. "With reference to the Memorandum dated the 10th of January, 1867, addressed to the Governor of New Zealand and enclosed in those papers, I have to state that in preparing the account which has been rendered by this office, showing the sums chargeable on the several Australian Colonies and New Zealand for the year 1867, the overcharge in the previous year's statement, so far as concerned the service performed between Sydney and Melbourne, was fully considered, and an allowance made to New Zealand of £2267 12s. on account of that overcharge, as explained in the Report of the Receiver and Accountant-General, of this revenue, dated the 22nd of March, and printed with the Accounts for 1867 (copy enclosed) which has already been forwarded to your Lordships. In the Comparative Statement appended to the Memorandum of the 10th of January above referred to, this overcharge is also stated to be £2267 12s. Id., but in the body of the Memorandum the amount is stated at £2647 10s. lOd. No explanation is given of the difference between the two sums, and I am unable to account for it in any other way than by assuming that the larger sum has been inserted in the Memorandum in error. I have, &c, The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. Mokteose.

A copy of the aooonnt for 1867 was forwarded to New Zealand by the Mail of 26th ultimo in pursuance of the request contained in the letter from the Treasury addressed to the Colonial Office on the 25th ultimo.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO MAILS VIA SUEZ.