MELBOURNE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

E.—No. 2.

15

No. 2. Copy of a Despatch from Governor Sir Geoege Grey, K.C.8., to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Caenaeyon. (No. 5.) Mr Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 11th January, 1867. In reply to your Lordship's Circular dated 22nd September last, enclosing a Minute from the Board of Treasury upon the subject of the Postal Communications between Great Britain and the East Indies, China, Japan, and tile Australian Colonies, I have the honor to report that in obedience to your request I have laid the papers before my Eesponsible Advisers, who state that a Conference of Delegates from the several Australian Colonies is about to be held to discuss the course which it may be advisable for these Colonies to adopt, on the subject of Steam Postal Communication with the United Kingdom, and that as soon as this has been done, the views of the New Zealand Government will be communicated to your Lordship. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon, &c. G. Geet.

No. 3. Copy of a Despatch from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Caenaeyon to Sir Geoege Geet, K.C.B. Sie,— Downing Street, 20th November, 1866. With reference to my Circular Despatch of the 22nd September last, I have the honor to transmit to you, for your information, the accompanying copy of a further letter from the Board of Treasury, respecting the Postal Communications between this country and the East Indies, China, Japan, and the Australian Colonies. I have, &c, Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.8., &c. Caenaevof. Enclosure in No. 8. Mr. G. W. Hunt to Sir F. Eogers. Sie, — Treasury Chambers, 14th November, 1866. With reference to the Minute of this Board, dated the 4th September last, upon the subject of the Postal Communications between this Country and the East Indies, China. Japan, and the Australian Colonies, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, for the information of the Earl of Carnarvon, that, after communication with the PostmasterGeneral, my Lords have authorized His Grace to defer giving the notices to the Peninsular and Oriental Company for the termination of their contracts until the result of the communication is known, which His Grace will at once open with the Italian Government, through the Foreign Office, as to the establishment of the proposed new route via Brindisi. I am however to add, that they have reason to believe that the statements contained in Captain Tyler's Eeport will meet with the cordial adherence of that Government. As regards the Australian Service, I am to state that my Lords have also authorized the postponement of the notice for the cessation of the service between Galle and Sydney until the replies shall have been received from the Colonies to their Lordship's recent Minute, in order that the notice may be given simultaneously with the invitation for tenders for the new service, thereby affording to the competing contractors more time for maturing their arrangements than they would otherwise have, if the notice were given at once, and the invitation for tenders delayed, as was at first contemplated. I have, &c, Sir ~F. Eogers, Bart., &c. Geoege Waed Hunt.

No. 4. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. J. McCtiiLocn to the Hon. E. W. Stafford. Bib, — Chief Secretary's Office, Melbourne, 26th November, 1866. The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury having intimated by Minute dated the 4th September, 1866, the intention of the Imperial Government to direct that the necessary steps should be taken for terminating the existing contracts for the conveyance of Mails between Great Britain and India, and Point de G-alle and Sydney : and their Lordships having also expressed a strong desire that any new contract for the branch service by which the Australian Mails mav be forwarded, should be under the joint control of the Colonies interested in the service, I have the honor by direction of His Excellency Sir J. H. T. Manners Sutton, to state that this intelligence appears to the Government of Victoria to afford an additional reason, to those already urged in the correspondence that has taken place on the subject, in favour of a meeting of delegates from the several Colonies for the full discussion of all matters connected with Steam Postal Communication, in order that the whole question may be settled on equitable grounds for the common good. I have therefore the honor to suggest that such a meeting should be arranged to take place on an early date, and that the gentlemen who may be appointed to the duty may be invested with full powers, as it is of the highest importance that the decision of the Colonies on the question remitted to them by Lord Carnarvon should be arrived at and communicated with the least possible delay. I would also suggest that Melbourne would, on account of its central position, be the most eligible place of meeting. A similar communication has been addressed to the Governments of New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, and "Western Australia. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, &c, New Zealand. James McCuxloch.