E.—No. 3a

No. 10. Copy of a Despatch from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir George Geet, K.C.B. (No. 7.) Sie,— Downing Street, 13th April, 1867. My predecessor referred to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, a copy of a Despatch of the 7th December, signed in your absence by the Colonial Secretary of New Zealand, enclosing a Memorandum by the local Postmaster-General, on the subject of the contribution of New Zealand, towards the cost of the Steam Postal Service via Suez. I have the honor to transmit to you for your information, and for that of your Responsible Advisers a copy of the letter which has been received in reply, enclosing a copy of a Report upon the subject from the Postmaster-General. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. Grey, K.C.B. Buckingham and Chandos.

Enclosure 1 in No. 10. Copy of a Letter from Mr. G. "W". Hunt, to Sir F. Rogees, Bart. (5049.) Sie, — Treasury Chambers, 4th April, 1867. With reference to your letter of the 7th February last, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit herewith copy of a Report dated 23rd ultimo, from the Postmaster-General, relative to the amount which the Colony of New Zealand has been called upon to contribute as its share of the moiety of the cost of maintaining the Mail Packet Service between this country and Australasia, and I am to request that in laying the same before the Duke of Buckingham you will move His Grace to cause a copy of it to be communicated to the Government of New Zealand. I have, &c, Sir Frederick Rogers, Bart. Geobge Waed Hunt.

Enclosure 2 in No. 10. Copy of a Letter from His Grace the Duke of Monteose to the Loeds Commissionebs of the Treasury. (No. 2595.) Mt Loeds,— General Post Office, 23rd March, 1867. In returning the letter from the Colonial Office, and its enclosure, which your Lordship* referred to me on the 11th ultimo, relative to the amount which the Colony of New Zealand has been called upon to contribute as its share of the moiety of the costs of maintaining the Mail Packet Service between this country and Australasia: I have the honor to state that having considered the circumstances set forth in the Memorandum of the Postmaster-General of New Zealand, I concur in the opinion expressed by that functionary, that the Colony has been overcharged, both on account of the number of letters forwarded by the route of Suez having been over estimated, and also in respect of the sea-conveyance between Melbourne and Sydney. In preparing the account showing the amounts chargeable against the Australian Colonies and New Zealand, for the year 1867, due regard has been had to these points. I am of course unable to state with precision what number of letters, &c, will be conveyed between this country and New Zealand during the current year; but should it be found that the actual number of letters transmitted via Suez differ materially from the number given in the account, the discrepancy can be adjusted in a subsequent account. I have, &c, The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. Monteose.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE CONVEYANCE 0E MAILS VIA SUEZ.