THE SUEZ MAIL SERVICE, (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1873 Session I, F-05

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1873. NEW ZEALAND.

THE SUEZ MAIL SERVICE, (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO).

Presented to loth Souses of the General Assembly by command of Sis Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. ~F. Hill to the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Sib, — General Post Office, London, 11th September, 1872. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th July last, No. F. 72-177, showing that in the account for the Packet Service for the year 1871 the Colony of New Zealand has been overcharged with the sum of £7,166 13s. Bd.; and in reply I beg to acquaint you that I have given directions for the necessary adjustments to be made in the accounts for the year 1873. I am, &c, The Postmaster-General, Wellington. p. Hill.

No. 2. The Agent-Geneeal to the Postmastee-Genebal. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 29th November, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 4th September last, with its enclosure addressed to the Secretary of the General Post Office in London. In reply, I beg to transmit copy of letter from the Secretary, admitting the error in the Postal Accounts between the United Kingdom and the Colony, and stating that amended accounts will be forwarded to Wellington by this mail. With reference to the remission of the sum of £5,595 18s. 3d., with which the Post Office has charged the Colony for American and other charges, I beg to state that I shall take an early opportunity of bringing the question under the notice of the Postmaster-General. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Postmaster-General, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 2. Mr. W. J. Page to the Agent-General. Sib, — General Post Office, London, 19th November, 1872. I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, covering a letter from the Postmaster-General of New Zealand on the subject of the Postal Accounts between the United Kingdom and the Colony; and, in reply, I beg to acquaint you that the mistake to which he calls attention arose through a clerical error, which is much regretted. I beg to add that amended accounts will be forwarded to Wellington by the next mail, as requested. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Wm. J. Page.

Noi 3. Mr. Page to the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Sib,— General Post Office, London, 19th November, 1872. With reference to your letter of the 4th September last (received through the New Zealand Government Agency in London), I find, on inquiry, that the balances on the accounts between our two offices for the period subsequent to the 30th June, 1870, have been correctly recorded in the books 1-E. 5.

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of the Receiver and Accountant-General of this Department, but that, through a clerical error, which is much regretted, the balance in favour of the Colony on the account for the quarter ended the 30th June, 1870, was debited to that office in the account for the following quarter. In compliance with your request, I beg to transmit to you the enclosed amended accounts. I am, &c, The Postmaster-General, &c, "Wellington. "Wm. Jas. Page.

No. 4. Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., to the Hon. Jrairs Vogel. Sib, — Melbourne, 14th January, 1873. Keferring to your conversation with our Mr. Blackwood, we have the honor to state in this form that we will convey your English Mail by our steamers between New Zealand and this port under the following conditions, for the sum of £5,000 per annum for three years from the time of acceptance of this offer. The steamer with the up-mail to leave Wellington nine days before the date of the P. and O. Company's steamer leaving Hobson's Bay, and to call at Picton, Nelson, and Hokitika, and at the Grey when the captain considers he can do so without much detention. The above mails to be delivered, — At Bluff ... ... ... ... ... 7 days „ Port Chalmers ... ... ... ... 8 „ „ Lyttelton ... ... ... ... 9£ „ ' „ Wellington ... ... ... ... 10-J- „ „ Nelson ... ... ... ... ... 12 „ from the arrival of the P. and 0. Company's steamer in Hobson's Bay; but should it arrive more than two days before its due date, an equivalent in time to be added to the days named; for example, if a vessel arrives three days before her due date, then one day is to be added to the times within which we purpose to deliver the English mails at the New Zealand ports named. Our steamer to remain here two days beyond the due date in the event of the P. and O. Company's boat being late, but no longer. This offer to include payment for all New Zealand mails carried by our steamers. We have, &c, The Hon. Julius Vogel, McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co. Postmaster-General of New Zealand.

No. 5. The Hon. J. Vogel to Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co. ■Gentlemen, — Menzies' Hotel, Melbourne, 14th January, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, in which you state the terms on which you are willing to contract for a steam service to and from New Zealand ports and Melbourne, in connection with the Suez Mail Service. In reply, I have the honor to state that your offer will be submitted to the New Zealand Government. The course which may be taken in respect to it will depend upon the decision arrived at in the ensuing Conference at Sydney, and upon the action of the New Zealand Parliament in connection therewith. I have, &c, Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., Melbourne. Julius Vogel.

No. 6. The Hod. J. Vogel to Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 12th April, 1873. Referring to your letter of the 14th January last, addressed to me whilst I was in Melbourne, and in which you made an offer to perform a mail service between Melbourne and New Zealand, I have the honor to state that that offer has been considered by the Government of this Colony. I find that in one respect your letter is deficient; for whilst in its second paragraph you offer that the steamer conveying the up-mail shall leave Wellington nine days before the schedule date for the P. and O. boat leaving Hobson's Bay, there is no stipulation as to the time of your steamers leaving Port Chalmers and Lyttelton. I am aware that your offer was made with a view to the Otago and Canterbury mails being carried overland to and from Hokitika. But considering that, occasionally, a landing at Hokitika cannot be effected, and that the road would often be very bad, it would be necessary, in any arrangement made with you, that there should be provision for the boats leaving Port Chalmers and Lyttelton within stated times of the departure date of the P. and 0. boats. It has suggested itself to me, however, that perhaps the best arrangement the Government could make with you would be one by which you simply undertook to deliver and to receive mails at a stated port, leaving the coastwise distribution to be effected by a separate service. I have therefore the honor to request that you will inform me at what price you would be willing to contract to deliver and to receive New Zealand English mails at the Bluff and Port Chalmers, adhering to the times for the passage —seven and eight days respectively—stated in your letter of 14th January.

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I should be glad if you would inform me also upon what terms you would perform a service involving delivery and receipt of mails at Hokitika, Nelson, and Wellington only ; the contract time between the termini being nine days, as stated in your letter of January 14. For either of those suggested services, the price should be less than that already proposed by you, and which involved certain coastwise deliveries of mails. The conditions, other than those as to the price and the time for passages, might be similar to those stipulated for in your letter. I have to propose that if any arrangement is made with you, it shall terminate at the end of 1873. Commencing with 1874, the arrangements as to the New Zealand English mails via Suez will have to be made with the concurrence of the Australian Governments, as proposed by the late Conference in Sydney. No doubt any arrangement now made with you would be continued ; but no promise to' that effect could be made. I have, &c, Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., Melbourne. Julius Vogel.

No. 7. Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., to the Hon. Julius Vogel. Sic,— Melbourne, Ist May, 1873. We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your communication of 12th ultimo, with reference to the performance of a mail service between New Zealand and Melbourne. It was our intention to reply by this steamer, but Mr. Bishop, our Wellington agent, having subsequently arrived with additional proposals, we beg to inform you that the whole question shall have our earnest consideration, and a full reply submitted you per s.s. " Albion," leaving here Bth instant. We have, &c, The Hon. Julius Vogel, McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co. Postmaster-General of New Zealand, Wellington.

No. 8. Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., to the Hon. Julius Vogel. Sib,— Melbourne, Bth May, 1873. We wrote to you by the steamer of the Ist inst., acknowledging receipt of your communication of 12th ult., with reference to a mail service between New Zealand and Melbourne. We note that you do not accept our offer of 14th January last, but propose two other services instead. We regret to notice that for the present you are only prepared to make a contract extending to the end of this year (1873) ; for so short a period we would not be disposed to alter the present course of our boats, and to meet your views we would be obliged to do so, and thereby incur very considerable expense. Our agent (Mr. Bishop) assures us you will have no hesitation in making an agreement extending over a period of three years. In that case, we will be prepared to carry your English mails, delivering them in Wellington in nine days from date of arrival of mail ship in Hobson's Bay ; but should it arrive more than two days before its due date, an equivalent in time to be added to the days named ; for example, if a vessel arrived three days before her due date, then one day is to be added to the times within which we propose to deliver the English mails at Wellington, and are to keep our steamers two days after the due date of the mail ship, in case she is beyond her time, but not longer. For the upmail, we would undertake to do the service in nine days and a half from Wellington to Hobson's Bay, The total service to be done for the sum of £6,500 per annum, payable monthly to our agent, Mr. Bishop. The mails to be carried both ways via Hokitika and Nelson. We have, &c, The Hon. Julius Vogel. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co.

No. 9. The Hon. J. Vogel to Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, "Wellington, 2nd June, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of May Bth in reply to mine of April 12th, on the subject of a mail service betweeen Melbourne and New Zealand, in connection with the P. and 0. Co.'s service via Suez. I regret to find that you now ask, for one of the two services which I proposed to you, a price in excess of that for which, when I was in Melbourne, you agreed to perform one involving the collection and delivery of mails at a larger number of ports, and that you propose, as a new stipulation, that the contract must extend over three years. In fact, the offer contained in your letter now under answer is altogether less favourable to this Colony than the one to which you agreed in Melbourne ; and it is also less favourable than either of those made by your agent in Wellington. I am compelled to express my surprise that, in the face of previous negotiations, you should have made such a proposal. I have, &c, Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., Melbourne. Julius Vogel.

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No. 10. Mr. W. Bishop to the Hon. J. Vogel. Modification of Proposal for a Mail Service, made to the Postmaster-General of New Zealand by Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., dated Melbourne, May, 1873. The inward mail to arrive at Wellington on the eighth instead of ninth day from arrival of Suez Mail in Hobson's Bay, via Hokitika and Nelson. Two pounds sterling per hour to be deducted off the subsidy if the time exceeds eight days from the hour of the mail being put on board, provided it be on board in time for steamer to clear Port Philip Heads same evening, otherwise the eight days to commence from daylight next day. The inward steamer to arrive at Lyttelton on the second day, and at Port Chalmers on the third day after arrival at Wellington, and at the Bluff as soon as possible. The outward mail steamer, calling at Bluff, to leave Port Chalmers on Eriday, being the twelfth day before departure of P. and O. boat, to leave Lyttelton on Saturday the eleventh day, and Wellington on Monday the ninth day (in time to catch the morning tide at Nelson), calling also at Nelson and Hokitika. A supplementary mail could be forwarded overland from Christchurch to Hokitika, and vice versa. All English mails sent coastwise to be free—that is, to be covered by the subsidy. Wm. Bishop, Wellington, 20th June, 1873. Agent.

No. 11. Mr. W. Bishop to the Hon. the Posthastek-General. Sic,— Wellington, 30th June, 1873. I have the honor to refer to the conversation which I had with you this morning, in. which you offered to make an agreement for one year certain for the service as proposed by Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., in their letter of May last, and as modified by the concessions under it, which I made as their agent, for the sum of £450 for each four-weekly service. After further consideration, I believe that Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co. will not consent to a reduction of the amount of subsidy named in their letter for a service which considerably increases their engagements, and at the same time reduces the term proposed for the agreement from three years to one year. It is also to be remembered that besides the fine of £2 per hour for any excess over eight days in the arrival of the mail, a penalty will be expected for failure in delivering the outward mail in time. I am very anxious to see an agreement made which shall be satisfactory, but I am equally averse to make an agreement which shall not be approved by the Melbourne firm. Should an agreement be made prior to the departure of the " Tararua," the mail steamer could be despatched from Melbourne via the Bluff, so as to take up the service at Dunedin on Friday, Ist August. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Wm. Bishop. P.S. —The concessions alluded to above are as follows :—A reduction in the time of the arrival of mail at Wellington to eight days, with a fine of two pounds (£2) for each hour over that time. Also a reduction of half a day for the outward mail. The giving fixed days of departure from Port Chalmers and Lyttelton, and limiting the days of arrival at those ports. All supplementary English mails to be free. ____________________

No. 12. Mr. ~W\ Geat to Mr. W. Bisnop. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 4th July, 1873. Adverting to previous correspondence, and to your interview with the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral, I am now directed to confirm the verbal agreement made on the 30th ultimo with you, acting on behalf of Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., for the performance of a four-weekly mail steam service between New Zealand and Hobson's Bay, based generally on your letter of the 20th ultimo, modifying the proposals made by your principals in their letter of the Bth May last; and I have to state briefly, the nature of the proposed arrangement:—That the agreement shall have effect for a period of six months. That Hokitika shall be the first port of arrival and last port of departure. That the inward service shall begin on the 29th instant from Hobson's Bay (or earlier should the English mails arrive prior to the due date) —the outward service to be taken up at Port Chalmers on. the Ist proximo. That the inward mails shall be landed at Hokitika (weather permitting) and Nelson, and delivered in "Wellington on the eighth day from the date of the arrival of the Suez mails in Hobson's Bay ; and that a deduction, at the rate of £2 per hour to be made for any longer period than 192 hours occupied between Hobson's Bay and Wellington. That the mails shall be delivered at Lyttelton and Port Chalmers respectively on the tenth and eleventh days. That the outward mails shall be delivered in Hobson's Bay in twelve days from Port Chalmers, eleven days from Lyttelton, nine days from Wellington, eight days from Nelson, and six and a half days from Hokitika. That in the event of the English mails being conveyed from Hobson's Bay to the Bluff direct, no further charge to be made ; and that all English mails are to be carried coastwise free of charge. That the subsidy to be paid on account of the foregoing service shall be £500 for the complete double service, payable monthly to your order at Wellington. The foregoing, I think, correctly represents ihe basis of the verbal agreement made between the Hon. Mr. Vogel and yourself ; but I am desired to submit to you the following additional conditions—

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the adoption of which is considered essential to the satisfactory working of the proposed service, and I have to request that they may be forwarded to your principals for approval by the out-going mail. I have to add that I shall be glad if you will take an early opportunity of informing me of the final result of the negotiations opened by you with the Messrs. Brogden, having for their object the arranging for the collecting and distributing the English mails at the Manukau and New Plymouth, in connection with the proposed mail service. 1. That the detention at Hokitika shall not exceed twelve hours on either voyage. 2. That in the event of the European mails not reaching Hobson's Bay on the due date, the steamer appointed to convey the mails to New Zealand shall await, if necessary, a period of forty-eight hours without extra remuneration. 3. That all European mails landed, shipped, and transhipped in Hobson's Bay, shall be by and at the expense of the contractors. 4. That a safe and proper place of deposit for the mails shall be provided, and, if necessary, suitable accommodation be furnished to the satisfaction of the Postmaster-General for enabling the mails to be sorted on board each of the steamships to be employed in the service ; and should it be required, a chief cabin passage, free of cost either for passage or victualling, to be provided for an agent of the New Zealand Post Office. 5. That the sum of £100 shall be paid by the Contractors to the Postmaster-General, in the event of either of the steamers to be employed in this service not sailing at the appointed time, and a further sum of £2 per hour after the first twenty-four hours shall be also paid for every delay in sailing after the expiration of such first period of twenty-four hours. 6. That for the failure to deliver the outward mails at Hobson's Bay in time for the sailing of the P. and O. steamer, the Contractors shall forfeit the sum of £150 on account of each failure ; and 7. That the Contractors shall bind themselves in the sum of £1,000 for the due and faithful performance of the proposed service. I have, &c, W. Geat, W. Bishop, Esq., Wellington. (for the Secretary).

No. 13. Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, New Zealand. Sib, — Melbourne, 24th June, 1873. We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your communication of 2nd instant, and in turn cannot but express surprise at its contents. We are, and always have been, most anxious to give every possible accommodation and facility for the conveyance of mails between New Zealand and this port. The service we offered to perform as per our letter of Bth May ult., is one that would completely upset the present working arrangements of our steamers, and therefore could not be undertaken without an adequate remuneration. The terms named (£G,500 per annum) we consider very reasonable. We are willing to establish a service to and from Melbourne and Wellington, landing and receiving mails at Bluff Harbour, Port Chalmers, and Lyttelton, both up and down, for a period of three years, for the sum of £5,000 per annum, upon the following terms, viz., the down mails to be delivered at — Bluff Harbour in ... ... ... ... ... 7 days Port Chalmers ... ... ... ... ... 8 days Lyttelton ... ... ... ... ... 9a-days Wellington ... ... ... ... ... 10^ days from the arrival of the P. and O. Co.'s steamer in Hobson's Bay ; but should it arrive more than two days before its due date, an equivalent in time to be added to the days named. For example, if the P. and O. vessel arrives at Melbourne three days before her due date, then one day is to be added to the times above named in which we propose to deliver the English mails at the various -New Zealand ports. Our steamer to remain here two days beyond the due date in the event of the P. and 0. vessel being late, but not longer; and in case the latter has not then arrived, the mails to be forwarded by next first boat. The steamer with the up-mails to be despatched from Wellington eleven days before the time of the P. and O. steamer leaving Hobson's Bay, and to call at Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, and Bluft* Harbour, not less than six and a half clear days being given from the latter port to tranship the mails here. The steamers carrying the English mails to be free of pilotage and all harbour and light dues at whatever ports these mails are landed or received. Payment to be made monthly to our agent, Mr. Wm. Bishop, Wellington. In addition to the above offer we are also willing to convey the mails to and from Nelson, Greymouth, and Hokitika, landing and receiving at the two latter ports, weather permitting, but without detention, free of extra charge. We are prepared to commence this service so soon as we learn from you of the acceptance of our offer. We have, &c., . The Hon. the Postmaster-General McMeckan, Blackwqod, and Co. of New Zealand, Wellington.

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No. 14. His Honor J. Macandeew to the Hon. J. Vogel. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 22nd July, 1873. I hate following Memo, from Dalgety and Co.: —" McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., will deliver the Suez mails inward at Bluff, Port Chalmers, Lyttelton, Wellington, Nelson, Greymouth, and Hokitika; and receive the outward Suez mails from these ports, beginning with Hokitika and ending with Bluff, for three years from month of August next, at £500 per month subsidy, within nine and a half days from Melbourne to Wellington (computed from the expiry of twenty-four hours given the steamer to prepare after arrival of the Suez steamer), and within eleven days from Wellington to Melbourne. This offer requires to be confirmed by Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co." (Signed) " Dalgety, Nicols, and Co., Agents for McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co.'s Steamers." J. Macandeew.

No. 15. His Honor J. Macandbew to the Hon. J. Vogel. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 22nd July, 1873. Kefeeeing to previous telegram, I have seen letter from McMeckan and Co. to Dalgety and Co., in which it is stated that we would most likely have delivery in Dunedin of the downward mail in six days, notwithstanding the specified time being more, as they wish to do so. The service rapidly and regularly. J. Macandeew.

No. 16. His Honor J. Macandeew to the Hon. J. Vogel. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 23rd July, 1873. Befoee telegraphing yesterday, I tried hard to induce Dalgety and Co. to name £5,000 a year, but was unsuccessful. They now, however, agreo to do so. You will therefore please to substitute £5,000 a year for £500 per month. J. Macandbew.

No. 17. Mr. Bishop to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal. Sib,— Wellington, 23rd July, 1873. I have the honor to hand you the enclosed extracts from the letter of Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., dated Melbourne, 11th July instant:-— " We cannot but express our great surprise at the contents of your letter, dated Ist July, with copy of letter, dated 30th June, to Mr. Yogel. " From the first, we steadily declined to enter upon such a short service as six months. It is very painful to us to have to repudiate any arrangement entered into by our agents, but in this instance we are compelled to do so. " We can only refer you to our communication of 24th ultimo, enclosing copy of the offer we made to Mr. Vogel on that date, and which conveys ouAdeas fully on the subject." I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. W. Bishop.

No. 18. Messrs. McMeckax, Blackwood, and Company, to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sib,— Wellington, Ist August, 1873. We are willing to establish a service to and from Melbourne and Wellington, landing and receiving mails at Hokitika, Nelson, Wellington, Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, and Bluff, both up and down, for a period of three years, for the sum of six thousand five hundred pounds (£6,500) sterling, per annum, according to the schedule following, viz.:— Wellington, via Hokitika and Nelson, in ... ... ... 9 days Lyttelton ... ... ... ... ... 11 days Port Chalmers ... ... ... ... ... 12 days from the arrival of the P. and 0. Company's steamer in Hobson's Bay; but should it arrive more than two days before its due date, an equivalent in time to be added to the days named—for example, if the P. and O. vessel arrives at Melbourne three days before her due date, then one day is to be added to the times above-named, in which we propose to deliver the English mails at the various New Zealand ports. Our steamer to remain here two days beyond the due date in the event of the P. and 0. vessel being late, but not longer ; and in case the latter has not then arrived, the mails to be forwarded by next first boat. The steamer with the up-mails to be despatched from Port Chalmers twelve days, Lyttelton eleven days, and Wellington nine days, via Nelson, (and, weather permitting, Greymouth and Hokitika), before the time of P. and O. steamers leaving Hobson's Bay. The steamers carrying the English mails to be free of pilotage and all harbour and light dues, at whatever ports these mails are landed or received. Payment to be made monthly, to our agent, Mr. Vm. Bishop, Wellington.

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In the event of mail ship arriving at any of the above ports on Sundays or public holidays, the same facilities to be granted by the authorities for working cargo as on week-days. This offer is subject to your accepting it, or the offer made on 24th June last, (subject to the sanction of Parliament,) previous to the sailing of " Luna," to-morrow —and the sanction of Parliament to be telegraphed to Mr. Blackwood, at the Bluff, before his departure on 6th instant per " Alhambra." This and all previous offers or tenders to be considered null and void, unless accepted by above date. "We are prepared to commence the service in September next. We have &c, McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co.

No. 19. The Hon. J. Vo&el to Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 2nd August, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, and to inform you in reply, that the Government will agree, subject to Parliamentary approval, to accept either the offer made yesterday, or that contained in your communication of the 24th June last. It is the intention to submit those offers to Parliament on Tuesday ; and if there is time before Mr. Blackwood leaves the Bluff, the decision which may be arrived at will be communicated to him by telegram. I have, &c, Messrs. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co., "Wellington. Julius Vogel,

No. 20. The Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government. Sir, — Downing Street, 14th May, 1873. I transmit to you copies of a Report received through the Board of Treasury from the Receiver and Accountant-General of the Post Office, with copies of a statement of the amounts chargeable to the several Australian Colonies and New Zealand on account of the Mail Packet Service for the present year, together with an account current showing the whole balance which will be due from each Colony on the 31st December next. I request that you will give instructions for a remittance to be made of one-half of the amount due on the 31st December next from the Colony under your government, as soon after the 30th June as possible, and that the balance then remaining due may be remitted after the expiration of each subsequent quarter. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government, New Zealand. Kimberley.

Enclosure in No. 20. Report from the Receiver and Accountant-General of the Post Office, explanatory of the Account against the Australian Colonies and New Zealand for Post Office Packet Service during the Tear ending 31st December, 1573. The account of the amount chargeable on the Australian Colonies and New Zealand for Mail Packet Service during the year 1573 is annexed. For the purpose of this Account, the numbers of Letters and Newspapers forming the basis of the charges against each Colony have been estimated on the assumption that the service between New Zealand and San Francisco, which was suspended in March last, will not be resumed during the year, and that consequently the whole of the correspondence with New Zealand and Australia will be forwarded via Suez during nine months of the current year. The amount charged against the Colonies on account of the service between England and Point de Galle includes the sum of £987 155., being the Colonial proportion, viz., one-half of the amount paid for the conveyance by French Packet from Point de Galle to Suez of the New Zealand and Australian mails due in England on the 17-24 March, these mails having missed the British packet for Suez, owing to an accident sustained by the steamer which conveyed them to Galle. The numbers of New Zealand Letters and Newspapers via Suez were over-estimated in 1871, and under-estimated in the account for the following year. An adjustment of the charges against the several Colonies, based upon the actual numbers of Letters and Newspapers exchanged during each of the years 1871 and 1872, has been made in this account. The balances due upon previous accounts have been remitted in full by Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and "Western Australia. No remittance has yet been received from Tasmania on account of its contribution for the year 1872, viz. £3,450 19s. lid. Part of the balance due from New South "Wales on the account to 31st December, 1872, amounting to £8,631 12s. 6d., is also outstanding. Geo. Chetwynd, General Post Office, London, 25th April, 1873. Receiver and Accountant-General.

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AN ACCOUNT showing the Amounts chargeable on the AUSTRALIAN COLONIES and NEW ZEALAND, on Account of the Mail Packet Service for the Year ending 31st December, 1873.

COLONIES. Estimated Number of Letters Inwards and Outwards in 1873. Service to Point de Galle. Service between Point de Galle and King George's Sound. Service between King G-eorge's Sound and Melbourne. Service between Melbourne and Sydney. Moiety of Cost of Mail Bags. Proportion of Cost of Special Packets between Dover and Calais. Estimated Number of Newspapers Inwards and Outwards vid Suez. Egyptian Transit rate on Newspapers vid Suez. Totals. I Victoria New South Wales ... South Australia New Zealand Tasmania ... Queensland Western Australia ... 956,440 412,800 198,800 472,300 71,430 193, 440 32,340 £ s. d. 12,243 14 10 5,285 10 10 2,545 7 2 6,047 9 11 914 11 10 2,476 16 5 414 4 0 £ a. d. 16,508 16 4 7,126 14 10 3,432 0 6 8,154 2 7 1,233 3 9 3,339 12 3 558 9 9 £ s. d. 7,624 12 10 3,291 9 9 3,765 18 3 569 11 0 1,542 8 2 £ s. d. 2,814" 5 8 3,21918 7 £ b. d. 53 3 8 22 19 2 11 1 1 26 5 6 3 19 5 10 15 2 1 16 0 £ a. d. 40 18 3 17 13 3 8 10 1 20 4 2 3 11 8 5 6 17 8 1,428,850 610, 400 289,990 634,700 160,300 265,050 49,510 £ s. d. 1,350 7 6 576 17 6 273 19 6 599 19 0 151 9 0 250 11 6 46 16 0 £ s. 37,821 13 19,135 11 6,270 18 21,833 18 2,875 16 8,947 4 1,022 13 1,318 15 9 ... ... 2,337,350 29,927 15 0 40,353 0 0 16,794 0 0 3,250 0 0 97,907 15 7,353 0 0 130 0 0 100 0 0 3,438,800 Dr. Account Current for the Tear 1873, in continuation of that rendered for the Tear 1872. Or. COLONIES. Balance of Account to 3 let December, 1872. Amount chargeable for ; 1873 (as per above Statement.) Amounts chargeable for the Years 1871 and 1872. Totals. COLONIES. [Remittances. Branch Packet Service. Amounts overcharged to the Colonies in 1871 and 1872 (as per Statement at the back). Balance due 31st December, 1873. Totaxs. Victoria ... New South Wales... South Australia ... New Zealand Tasmania Queensland WeBtern Australia £ s. d. 73,132 5 3 26,050 0 4 7,497 1 9 6,554 11 5 3,450 19 11 14,715 7 4 1,267 10 4 £ s. d. 37,821 13 5 19,135 11 0 6,270 18 4 21,833 18 0 2,875 16 1 8,947 4 9 1,022 13 5 £ s. d. 2,985 18 0 2,127 18 8 315 2 4 1,600 14 1 283 1 10 1,923 4 6 85 14 4 £ s. d. 113,939 16 8 47,313 10 0 14,083 2 5 28,989 3 6 6,609 17 10 25,585 16 7 2,375 18 1 Victoria... New South Wales South Australia ... New Zealand Tasmania ... Queensland Western Australia £ s. d. 73,132 5 3 17,418 7 10 4,815 16 9 £ s. d. 2,681 5 0 £ s. d. 1,868 0 11 148 9 3 77 17 8 7,167 18 9 24 8 9 2 10 3 67 8 2 £ s. d. 38,939 10 6 29,746 12 11 6,508 3 0 21,821 4 9 6,585 9 1 10,867 18 11 1,050 19 7 £ s. ( 113,939 16 I 47,313 10 ( 14,083 2 ! 28,989 3 I 6,609 17 11 25,585 16 ' 2,375 18 : 8,425 0 4 1,267 10 4 6,290 7 1 131,667 16 4 97,907 15 0 [ 9,321 13 9 238,897 5 1 105,059 0 6 238,897 5 : 8,971 12 1 9,346 13 9 115,519 18 9 General Post Office, London, 25th April, 1873. G-ko. Chetwtitd, Receiver and Accountant- G

9

P.—s

A STATEMENT showing the Sums Credited to the AUSTRALIAN COLONIES in 1873, on Account of Overcharges, &c., in the Accounts for the Years 1871 and 1872.

COLONIES. Number of Letters Inwards and Outwards in 1872. Sums allowed to the Colonies on account of Penalties on the Mail Packet Service between Point-de-Galle and Sydney, Year 1872.* Amounts Overcharged in 1871 and 1872. Total Sums Credited to the Colonies. Victoria few South Wales South Australia few Zealand Tasmania Queensland Western Australia 954,340 401,980 198,580 74,410 71,170 193,440 32,310 £ s. d. 12 7 9 5 4 4 2 11 6 0 19 4 0 18 6 2 10 3 0 8 4 £ s. d. 1,855 1? 2 143 4 11 75 6 2 7,166 19 5 23 10 3 £ a. d. 1,868 0 11 148 9 3 11 17 8 7,167 18 9 24 8 9 2 10 3 57 8 2 5619 10 1,926,230 25 0 0 9,321 13 9 9,346 13 9 * Amount of Penalties inflicted ... .,. „ Premiums earned £600 550 Excess of Penalties over Premiums £50 One half to be credited to the Colonies £25 Trice 9<£] By Authority: Geokob Didsbvet, Government Printer, Wellington—1873.