D—No. 3

No. 1.

Copt or a DESPATCH from his grace the duke of Newcastle to governor gore browne, c.b.

Downing Street, 26th April, 1861.

Sir —

With reference to previous correspondence on this subject, I have the honor to transmit to you the accompanying letter from the Treasury, enclosing a Copy of a Minute from the Lords Commissioners respecting the conduct of the Mail Service between this country and Australia and the manner in which the expense of that Service is to be defrayed by the Home Government and the several Colonies concerned. You will observe that their Lordships will be glad to be informed of the views entertained by your Government in connection with this question.

2Jlh April, 18(11

I have, &c, Governor Gore Browne, C.8., Newcastle. &c, &c., &c.

Enclosure in No. 1.

MR. HAMILTON TO MR. ELLIOT,

Treasury Chambers, 25th April, 1861.

Sir,— With reference to the several Despatches from the Governors of the Australian Colonies, recently forwarded by you to this Board, on the subject of the Mail Service between England and Australia, I am desired by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit, for the information of His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, the enclosed Copy of a Minute of their Lordships upon the subject, dated the 25th instant, and I am to state that my Lords would be glad if steps could be taken for communicating their Minute to the several Colonial Governments interested, by the outgoing Mail. I am to add, that copies of the Contract, when completed, shall be also forwarded to the Colonial Office.

I have, &c.,

T. F. Elliot, Esq., Geo. A. Hamilton. &c, &c, &c.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 1

copy Of treasury minute, dated 25th april, 1861.

My Lords have under their consideration a Report from the Postmaster-General, dated 7th February, 1861, on Despatches from the Governors of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania, on the subject of the Mail Service between England and Australia. By the present arrangement, the Australian Mails are carried as far as Ceylon by the vessels of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, which are under contract for the conveyance of tho Indian Mails. From Ceylon they are conveyed to Melbourne and Sydney by a Packet calling at King George's Sound. The main Service ceases at Sydney. Although, as observed by the Postmaster-General, considerable differsnee of opinion appears to exist amongst the different Colonies, both as to the terminal point and as to the discontinuance of the stoppage at Kaugaroo Island, yet the present arrangement with the Peninsular and Oriental Company seems to be generally approved, though an alteration is desired in the mode of distributing the contributions of the different Colonies towards the cost of the Service.

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE MAIL CONTRACT SERVICE BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.