E.—No. 1

Letters, books, and newspapers may be transmitted via the United Kingdom to the Continent of Europe, the AVest Coast of Africa, and the Cape of Good Hope, at the same rates as are chargeable by the route of Southampton via Suez. Trade patterns for the United Kingdom, and all places to which these are transmissible via the United Kingdom may also be forwarded at the same rates as are charged by the route of Southampton via Suez. Full information as to postage rates for Foreign Countries via the United Kingdom, can bo obtained on reference to the Tables of Bates. No. 25. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. James Pateeson to the Hon. J. Dockee. Sic,— General Post Office, AVellington, 2nd July, IS6O. I have the honor to acknowiedge the receipt of yrour letter, dated the 15th ultimo, and in reply beg to acquaint you with the principle which guided this Government in fixing the rates of postage on correspondence via Panama. The Imperial Government having agreed to convey the New Zealand Mails via Panama between Southampton and Colon, free of expense, was regarded in the light of a contributor to the through line —the rates of postage, therefore, to the United Kingdom, and to the Continent of Europe, passing through the Knited Kingdom, were fixed at the same rates as are now charged on correspondence by the Suez and Southampton route. The British West Indies was similarly regarded in respect of any interest they may have in the line of mail steamers between Southampton and Colon, and the rates of postage assimilated to those to the United Kingdom. The other countries named in the schedule not having any interest in that portion of the service referred to could not be regarded in the same light as the United Kingdom and the British West Indies, and, in the absence of any postal convention, this Government resolved to fix the rates simply for conveyance between New Zealand and Panama or Colon, as the case may be, leaving to these countries to charge such rates on delivery as their postal laws may direct. AVhat these charges may be, this Government has no means of ascertaining, but an Agent has been sent by the s. s. " Kaikoura " to obtain every possible information on this and other points, and on his return I shall not fail to acquaint you with the result. The third clause of your letter, I apprehend, rather refers to the continuation of the Suez route to' New Zealand than to the Panama. I have, Ac, James Pateeson, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. Postmaster-General.

SCHEDULE.

16

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO

Let: CERS. Books. Places. Not exceeding -| oz. Exceeding ■J- and not exceeding 1 oz. E veryadditional a" oz. Every additional oz. Not exceeding 4 oz. 4 to 8 ozs. Every additional 8 ozs. Ncwspapc] Sew Zealand ' Sixpence OnoriiMliii': Sixpence Sixpence Sixpence Sixpence > Id. each. British Columbia, America, "West Indies, and Canada Sixpence One Baffling Sixpence Letter Rate Cni led Kingdom Sixpence One Shilling One Shilling Fourpcnce Eightpence Eiglii pence

Lx:tt>:i:s. Books. Registration Newspapers For every additional Ounce or fraction of an Ounce. For every additional 8 Ounces or fraction of 8 Ounces. Fee to Port AND Countries. Not exceeding i Ounce. Not exceeding 1 Ounce. Not exceeding 4 Ounces. Hot ■ 8 Ounces. of Arrival. PUICES-C CERENT. British West Indies Sixpence ... One Shilling One Shilling Sixpence One Shilling One Shilling One Shilling Twopence each foreign West Indies I I One Shilling Two Shilling Two Shillings No Book Post^ Ditto Ditto British America ... i One Shilling Two Shillings Two Shillings Sixpence One Shilling One Shilling Ditto Ditto United States One Shilling Two Shillings Two Shillings No Boot Post Ditto Ditto Central America ... One Shilling Two Shillings Two Shillings No Book Post Ditto . Ditto south America One Shilling Two Shillings Two Shillings No Book Post Ditto Ditto Madeira One Shilling Two Shillings Two Shillings Sixpence One Shilling One Shilling , Ditto Ditto ?ape deVerde Islands One Shilling Two Shillings Two Shillings Sixpence One Shilling One Shilling Ditto Ditto Canary Islands One Shilling Two Shillings Two Shillings Sixpence One Shilling One Shilling Ditto Ditto Dhe United Kingdom fhe Continent of Europe, via the United Kingdom f Letters, B< ) those in i ook Packets, b force when trans ind Registrar smitted by tho ] ion Fees to be route via Suez ar charged the si ad Southamptoi some rates as \ a - S !. under 1 oz;A tional ounce ; > unco... ) { la.under| oz. and 4d. for every £ oz. in addition One Penny each One Penny it addition to thi existing rates France Letters. —ll and so or and -id. i Od. under £ oz.; i increasing at tl foreign Postage ; Is. 2d. under he rate of la. ( for every addit ■ | oz.; 2s. unde Colonial Postage tional £ ounce or *r f oz. j 2s. 4d. for every iiddit • fraction of j ui >T',vopence each Ditto Book Pack] 8 oz. or £ ets. —7d. under ■ raction i 4 oz.; Is. 2d. i under 8 oz.; and 1 Is. 2d. for evei ?ry additional