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ney and Panama, and the various lines of steam ships connecting the route via Panama with other countries. Mr Parkes desires me to express his thanks for your prompt attention to hi a request, and the pains taken to make the information full and complete, I have, Ac, H. Lawson, Esq., Heney Halloban. Sub-Manager P., N.Z., and A.R.M. Co., Sydney. Enclosure 2 in No. 15. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Lambton to Mr. Lawson. Sydney, February 20, 1866. Sic — I am directed by the Postmaster-General to inform you, in reply to your letter dated the 19th instant, that in the short period of time allowed for consideration it is impossible to offer any opinion upon the utility of the Time Table proposed for the English Mail Service via Panama, before the departure of the mail steamer to-day. I have, Ac, H. Lawson, Esq., L. H. Lambton, P., N.Z., and A.R.M. Co., Acting Secretary. Sydney. No. 16. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Eliott to Mr. Lawson. General Post Office, AVellington, 14th April, 1866. Sic, — I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Postmaster General, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, addressed from Sydney to the Colonial Secretary of New Zealand on the 28th of February last, but which only arrived here on the 3rd inst., respecting the commencement of the Panama Mail Service. This Goveruinant has considered the Time Tables enclosed in your letter, and perceives in reference thereto, that the proposed dates although involving a more rapid transit (by twentyfour hours on the outward, and thirty-six hours on the homeward passage) than would be the case if the mails were despatched by the Steamers leaving Southampton on the 20th of the Month, are not favorable to this Colony, as instead of alternating with the arrival in New Zealand of mads by the present Suez line, the mails by the Panama Line would be received almost within the same twenty-four hours as the mails by the other line. If however the New South AVales Government should be of opinion that it is essential that the proposed Time Table should be adopted, pro. tern., in opening the line, this Government will consent to that adoption for the present, pending further experience of the working of the line. A communication to this effect has been made to the New South AVales Government, and an early reply has been requested. I observe a quotation in your letter from the Directors of your Company, to Captain A Tine Hall complaining of the delay which has taken place with reference to the Time Tables, and stating that they are at a loss to comprehend why details have not been agreed upon, as Captain A'ine Hall, when in New Zealand, made frequent application on the subject. So far as this Government is concerned no imputation as to any delay in this matter can be made, as almost immediately after the accession of the present Ministry to office (16th October last) 'when it was proposed and desired to enter into definite arrangements in concert with him and the New South Wales Government, Captain A Tine Hall proceeded to New South AVales, and as no communication was received from him on the subject, Mr. Stafford wrote to him on 17th of January last, stating that he had been for some time expecting a communication from him on the subject of the Time Tables, and in reply your letter of the 14th of February last was received on the 23rd of that month, in which you explained that Captain A rine Hall had been unable to obtain sny definite decision on the subject from the New South AVales Government. The next letter (to which I am now replying) from you on this subject was only received on the 3rd inst. This Government also addressed to the New South AVales Government, letters on the subject of the Panama Mail Service, dated respectively the 20th and 27th of October last, and the 18th

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