MAIL SERVICE BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND, SAMOA TONGA, AND TAHITI GROUPS OF ISLANDS (CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE INAUGURATION OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1885 Session I, F-03

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1885. NEW ZEALAND.

MAIL SERVICE BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND, SAMOA TONGA, AND TAHITI GROUPS OF ISLANDS (CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE INAUGURATION OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Governor Sir Wm. Jeevois, G.C.M.G., C.8., to the Beitish Consul, Samoa. Sie, — Government House, Wellington, 29th May, 1885. I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a letter which I am addressing to the King of Samoa (copies of which I am also sending to the King of Tonga and the Governor of Tahiti) on the occasion of the inauguration of a mail service from New Zealand to those islands. I trust that you will do anything that may be in your power to make the service a commercial success. I have, &c, W. B. Churchward, Esq., Wm. F. Deummond Jeevois. H.B.M. Consul at Samoa. [Similar letters addressed also to the British Consuls at Tonga and Tahiti.]

No. 2. Governor Sir Wm. Jeevois, G.C.M.G., C.B , to the King of Samoa. Sib, — Government House, Wellington, 29th May, 1885. I take the opportunity of the departure of the first of the steamers which are to run between New Zealand and the Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti Groups of Islands to offer to your Majesty my congratulations on the establishment of this mail service. Although inaugurated on an unpretending scale, I trust that your Majesty will view it as a means of cementing and increasing friendly and commercial relations between your islands and the Colony of New Zealand. I need scarcely add, that there is no political intention in connection with the establishment of the service; and that the benefits which it will confer will be open on equal terms to all races and nationalities alike. I have, &c, Wm. F. Deummond Jeevois. [Similar letters addressed also to King George of Tonga and the Governor of Tahiti.]

No. 3. The King of Samoa to Governor Sir W. P. D. Jeevois, G.C.M.G., C.B. Aliie, — Mulinuu, 3 Julai, 1885. Ua ou maua lau tusi sa tusia mai ile aso 29 Me. Ua ou fiafia ma le faafetai tele ona o lenei sauniga ua faatuina. Ua rnamao ia te au ma lo'u Malo sina masalosalo i lenei sauniga, aua. ua inatou mautinoa o sauniga uma tou faia e tauau ai i luma sina lelei mo i matou. Ao 100 tumau pea lo matou faamounoe e tusa ma lo matou manao na momoli atu i Sana Afioga le Tupu Tamaitai o Peritania pe ana mafai. Ou te faamoemoe pea i lou agalelei ina ia e fesoasoani i sauniga e tatau mo au ma lo'u Malo. Ja e Soifua, Malietoa, Kovana Nuu Sila. Tupu o Samoa.

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[Translation.] To His Excellency Sir W. F. D. Jeevois, G.C.M.G., C.8., Governor of New Zealand. Youe Excellency,—■ Mulinuu, 3rd July, 1885. I have received your letter written on the 29th of May. I rejoice heartily, and desire to express my thanks for the establishment of steam communication with Samoa. Far from me is any suspicion of that arrangement as having any political signification affecting my Government. Yet, on the other hand, we are well assured that all arrangements which you carry out have as their tendency some advantage to us. Our hope still continues, in accordance with the request presented to Her Majesty the Queen of England, that if it be possible, that should take place. I shall continue to rely on your kindness to aid in all arrangements which are conducive to the welfare of myself and my Government. May you live, (Signed) Malietoa, King of Samoa.

No. 4. The Governor of Tahiti to Governor Sir W. F. D. Jeevois, K.C.M.G., C.B. Ktablissernents Frai^ais de I'Oceanie. Le Commissaire de la Marine Moeau, Gouverneur des Etablissements Cabinet du Governeur, Fra^ais de I'Oceanie, a, Son Excellence le Gouveeneue de la No. 253. Nouvelle Zelande, Wellington. Monsieur le Gouveeneue, — Papeete, le 16 Juillet, 1885. J'ai eu l'honneur de recevoir le 14 du courant la lettre en date du 29 Mai dernier, par laquelle Votre Excellence m'informe de l'inauguration d'une ligne postale par bateaux k vapeur devant relier votre colonie avec les lies Samoa, Tonga, et Tahiti. Je ne puis que me feliciter des relations nouvelles qui vont s'etablir entre la Nouvelle Zelando et le chef lieu de nos etablissements en Oceanie; il ne saurait en resulter que des facilites et des avantages au point de vue du commerce et de l'approvisionnement de Tahiti. Je serai done personnellement heureux si le Conseil-General de la Colonie, qui ni peut manquer egalement d'apprecier ces avantages, trouvait, dans nos ressources financieres, le moyen d'encourager la ligne postale dont il s'agit. L'Administration ne manquera pas de les lui signaler et d'appeler sur eux toute son attention. Eecevez, Monsieur le Gouverneur, l'assurance de ma haute consideration. Moeau.

[Translation.] French Settlements of Oceania. From M. Moeau, Commissioner of Marine, Governor of the French Governor's OfSce, Settlements of Oceania, to His Excellency the Goveenoe of Now No. 253. Zealand, Wellington. Youe Excellency,— Papeete, 16th July, 1885. I had the honour on the 14th instant to receive the letter of the 29th of May last, in which Your Excellency informs me of the inauguration of a postal line by steam vessels to connect your colony with the islands of Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti. I am much pleased at the new relations which will thus be established between New Zealand and the head-quarters of our settlements in Oceania. There cannot but spring from them facilities and advantages to Tahiti, both in the way of commerce and food supplies. I shall therefore be personally glad if the Council-General of the colony, who cannot help equally appreciating these advantages, find in our financial resources the means of encouraging the postal service in question. The Executive will not fail to represent them to them, and to invite their most earnest attention to the subject. Eeeeive, &c. Moeau.

Authority: Geobge Didsbcby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBs