E.—No. 2.

MELBOURNE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

17

-will probably look mainly to its newly established route through Torres Straits. For those reasons it appears the more desirable that the whole group of British communities in this part of the world should be represented at any such Postal Conference as you suggest and invite, in order that the remoter as well as the more immediate advantages to be derived from each separate line of communication, both singly and forming a part of a system, may be considered thoroughly, and from opposite stand points. 6. In reply to the observations contained in your letter of October 10th, on the relative merits of the Suez and Panama routes, I may mention that the mails despatched from Sydney via Panama on the 15th June were delivered at Southampton on the 12th August, while the Southampton part of the mails, via Suez, which left here on the 24th June, was not delivered before the 25th August, giving a saving of four days in favour of Panama. In the same manner the delivery of the July mails by tho respective services at Southampton, gave a saving of two days in favour of Panama—the one having arrived on the 11th and the other on the 22nd September. It is submitted however that the postal advantages of this service ought to be viewed in the light of the facilities which it affords for communicating with the Nations of the American Continent, and that the Postal advantages alone ought not to determine its value to the Australian Colonies. 7. In conclusion, I have the honor to assure you that this Government is by no means insensible to the value of the line of communication in the furtherance of which the Colony of Victoria is said to be most interested, and it will be prepared to join in any new contract for providing an efficient service between these Colonies and Point de Galle, on such conditions as shall ensure a just regard to all interests. I have, &c, Tho Hon. the Chief Secretary of Victoria, Melbourne. Henry Parkes.

No. 7. Copy of a Letter from tho Hon. E. W. Stafford to the Hon. H. Pahkes. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 31st December, ISG6. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 122, of the 11th instant, transmitting a copy of a letter which you had addressed to the Government of Victoria, on the subject of a proposal made by that Government for a Conference of Representatives from the several Colonies to consider the whole question of postal communication between Australasia and Great Britain, with a view to a satisfactory settlement. The Government of New Zealand is prepared to send Representatives to the proposed Conference whenever tho time and place of meeting has been determined. I have, &c. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New South Wales. E. W. Stafford.

No. 8. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Stafford to the Hon. J. McCulloch. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 31st December, 1566. In my letter No. 413, of the 17th instant, I stated that the New Zealand Government agreed to a proposed Conference to discuss the whole question of Steam Postal Communication, and that Mr. Crosbie Ward had been accredited to represent this Government at that Conference. When I wrote that letter I was under the impression that the Conference was to be held forthwith, and that Mr. Ward was at the time in Australia ; but a few days after my letter was despatched Mr. Ward returned to New Zealand, and I learned from the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, that the Conference would probably not take place before February next. Although the exact arrangement contemplated in that letter cannot therefore be carried into effect, I desire to state that whenever the time and place of meeting of the Conference has been determined, this Government will be prepared to send Representatives to it on the part of New Zealand. I have, &e., The Hon. Chief Secretary, Victoria. E. W. Stafford.

No. 9. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. "W". Stafford to the Hon. John Hail. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 30th January, 1867. I have the honor to inform you that the Government of New Zealand has been invited by the •Governments of Victoria and New South Wales to send Representatives to a Conference of Delegates from the several Australian Colonies, for the discussion and determination of all matters connected with postal communication between those Colonies and Great Britain, and that the New Zealand Government has acceded to the proposal. So far as this Government is at present informed, the Conference will be held in the City of Melbourne, in the month of February next, and the delegates to be appointed will be invested with full powers to act on behalf of their respective Governments. "Understanding that you are willing to undertake the task of representing, in conjunction with Mr. Crosbie Ward, the Colony of New Zealand, at the Conference in question, I have the honor to inform you that the Government will be glad to obtain for the Colony the advantage of your services as one of its Representatives ; and I enclose a warrant duly accrediting you in that capacity. With regard to the extent of your powers to bind the Colony by any specific agreement, I am to state that while the Government is of course unable to promise the assent of the Legislature to any measures to which such assent may be indispensable, yet, looking to the great importance of fixed and definite results being arrived at by the Conference, and to the confidence which they repose in tho