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lii the meantime, I have to inform you that tho Alctorian mail by the " Tararua" was, in accordance with your request, forwarded by the " Kaikoura." I enclose a statement of the weight of the bags and packets in that mail, and I have to request you to be good enough to cause me to be furnished, at your early convenience, with the number and weights of the letters and with the number of the newspapers contained therein. The Hon. the Chief Secretary, I have, Ac, Alctoria. E. AY. Staffobd. Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 2 in No. 27. A Statement of the AVeight of Mails from Melbourne sent via Panama, 24th June, 1866. 1 bag for London ... ... ... ... 4 lbs. weight. 1 packet for New York ... ... ... ..." 1 ~ A 7alparaiso ... 1 „ Panama 1 „ British Columbia ... ... ... . „ . ■~ 2 " California \ '" 4 lbs- ™ght. 1 „ Jamaica 1 „ Antigua ... 1 „ Honolulu ... ... ... ..._, Total ... ... 8 lbs. weight. W. Geat. No. 28. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. James Pateeson to the Seceetabt, General Post Office, London. (P. 66-92.) General Post Office, Sic,— Wellington, 23rd June, 1866. I have the honor to inform you that the Steam Mail Service between New South AVales, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom via Panama, being now established, I beg to request you will bo good enough to cause mails to be made up for this Colony, and forwarded by the AVest India Company's Mail Steamer, leaving Southampton on the 2nd of each month, and arriving at Colon on or about the 21st. A steamer will be waiting at Panama the arrival of the Southampton steamer, to convey these mails to New Zealand and New South AVales. This new service will not interfere with tho usual despatch of the mails via Suez, which will continue as at present. I have, Ac, The Secretary, General Post Office, James Pateeson, London. Postmaster-General. No. 29. Copy of a Memoeandum by the Hon. E. AY. Staffoed. As the Panama Steam Postal Service between Great Britain, New Zealand, and Australia, is now established, Ministers request His Excellency the Governor to represent to the Imperial authorities, the wish of the New Zealand Government that tho Right Hon. the Postmaster-General in London maycause all necessary action to be taken and every publicity given, with a view to the transmission of mails by that route, and that the same postage rates may be charged as are now levied on letters, newspapers, Ac, sent via Suez. His Excellency the Governor. E. W. Staffobd. Wellington, 20th July, 1806. No. 30. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. James Pateeson to the Seceetaev, General Post Office, London. "(F. 66-104.) General Post Office, Sic,— AVellington, 24th July, 1866. Referring to my letter of the 23rd ultimo, requesting you to be good enough to cause mails for the Colony to be made up and despatched by the West India Mail Steamers leaving Southampton on the 2nd, and arriving at Colon about the 21st of each month, and intimating that, in accordance with arrangements previously advised, a steamer would be in waiting at Panama for the conveyance of such mails to New Zealand,—l have now the honor further to request that you will forward correspondence conveyed by this route at the same rates of postage as are now charged on correspondence from the United Kingdom to this Colony by the Suez and Southampton route. This Government has arranged to forward correspondence from New Zealand to the United Kingdom via Panama at these same rates. I have, Ac, The Secretary, General Post Office, James Pateeson, London. Postmaster-General. No. 31. Copy of a Letter from Mr. F. Hill to the Hon. James Pateeson. Sic, — General Post Office, London, 31st May, 1866. I am directed by the Postmaster-General, to inform you that the agent in London of the New 5

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THE PANAMA MAIL SERVICE.