EL—No. 1

Copy of a Letter from Mr. Wilkens, to the Hon. E. W. Staffobd. Wellington, 27th October, 1565. Sic — I had the honor to receive your letter of the 26th hist., acquainting me of the acceptance of the yearly subsidy of 100,000frs. tendered by his Excellency the Governor of Tahiti, provided that the Government of New South Wales, and the Royal Mail Company concur. Captain Vine Hall, General Manager of this Company, has now kindly accepted to arrange with New South Wales this affair on the part of Tahiti. Tou would also recommend to the British Government the carrying of mails over the Atlantic for Tahiti on the same terms as for the Colony of New Zealand. In thanking y rou for the courteous assistance offered in this matter, which I shall lay before the Governor of Tahiti, on my return, I have, Ac, The Hon. Colonial Secretary, C. Wilkens. Wellington. No. 8. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Staffobd to the Hon. Chas. E. Cowpeb. No. 218. Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 27th October, 1865. Sib, — With reference to the communications which have taken place between this Government and the Government of New South Wales on the subject of the proposed Steam Mail Service via Panama, I have the honor to forward to you the enclosed papers, specified in the accompanying Schedule relating to this subject. I have to draw your attention to the correspondence with Mr. Wilkens, the delegate from the Government of Tahiti, respecting the Steamers calling at the Port of Papeete. Captain Vine Hall (General Manager of the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail Company) has adverted to this proposal in a Memorandum which you will find attached to the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Representatives on the Postal arrangements of the Colony. I shall be glad to receive the expression of your opinion as to the desirability or otherwise of extending the service to Tahiti. Captain Vine Hall proceeds to Sydney by this opportunity, and will no doubt, should you desire it, place himself in communication with you upon this subject. I have, Ac, The Hon. Colonial Secretary, E. W. Staffobd. New South Wales. SCHEDULE OF I'APEHS ALLUDED TO. Further papers relative to establishment of Panama Mail Service. (Sess. Papers, 1865, D., No. 1, A.) Letter from Mr. Wilkens proposing that Steamers should call at Tahiti. 24th October, 1865. Colonial Secretary to Mr. Wilkens in reply. 26th October, 1865. Report of Select Committee on Postal Arrangements of the Colony. 1865. No. 9. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir Geobge Geey, X.C.8., to the Right Hon. Edwaed Caedwell. M.P. Government House, Wellington, 14th November, 1865. Sic, — I have the honor to state that the Governor of Tahiti having proposed to this Government that the Steamers running between this and Panama should call at Tahiti, carrying Mails to and from that place, my Ministers have advised that with a view to that proposal being acted

5

No. 7

THE PANAMA MAIL SERVICE.