E.—No. 1.

THE PAXAMA MAIL SERVICE.

19

aame rates on account of Isthmus transit on all mails hitherto or hereafter to bo forwarded by or through this Colony for transmission by the Panama mail steamers across the Isthmus. I accordingly enclose a statement of the gross weight on all mails forwarded from your Colony from October last up to the present time, and transmitted by this route, and have to state that these amounts due thereon have likewise been charged against your Department. I am further to request that in future all correspondence forwarded by you for transmission by this route may be sent in your mail for this office, and not as heretofore in direct mails to Panama and London. The adoption of this course will be necessary, to enable this Colony to account to the Imperial Post Office on the Letter Bills for one penny out of every sixpence accounted for by you to this office on letters, and one penny out of every fourpence accounted for by you on book packets. It will materially facilitate despatch if the correspondence from your office for transmission via Panama is made up distinct from the ordinary correspondence for Sydney, and accompanied by a Letter Bill (a few forms of which will be forwarded to you at an early opportunity), the correspondence liable to the Isthmus transit being distinguished by a label from that intended for delivery this side of the Isthmus. From the Letter Bills to be forwarded you will perceive that it is proposed that your office shall account to Xew South "Wales for all foreign postages, and these shall be re-accounted for by us to the London Office. I have, &c, The Postmaster-General, &c, &c. Secretary.

No. 43. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. Joiix Hall to the Hon. J. Dockee. Sic, — General Post Office, "Wellington, 2nd January, 18G7. Eeferring to my letter of the 24th ultimo, No. 176, I have the honor to forward to you the enclosed copy of a letter from the Secretary of the General Post Office, London, dated 27th August, respecting the amount of postage to be credited to the Imperial office on correspondence forwarded via Panama, and of my answer to that communication. I have, &c, Joiin Hall, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. Postmaster-General.

Kos. 5 and 6 in this series.

No. 44. Copy of a Letter from Mr. S. H. Lahbton to the Hon. John Hall. Urn,— General Post Office, Sydney, 19th January, 1867. I have the honor, by direction of the Postmaster-General, to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter dated 2nd instant, (F. C 7-2), enclosing copy of a letter from the Secretary of the General Post Office, London, dated 27th August, respecting the amount of postage to be credited to the Imperial office on correspondence forwarded via Panama, together with a copy of your reply thereto. I am to refer you to correspondence lately addressed from this to your Department, by which it will be seen that the steps suggested, as far as this Colony is concerned, have already been taken. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, The Postmaster-General, "Wellington, New Zealand. Secretary.

No. 45. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. H. Paekes to the Hon. E. "W. Staffoed. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, New South Wales, Ist January, 1867. I have the honor to enclose a copy of letter from the Honorable the Postmaster-General of this Colony pointing out the necessity for arrangements being made by New Zealand with the Imperial Government for the despatch of direct mails to Sydney, from the General Post Office, London, and, also, the incompleteness of existing arrangements for charging the correspondence of the noncontributing Colonies in Australia. 2. I desire to invite your early attention to the several questions raised by Mr. Docker for the consideration of the New Zealand Government. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary of New Zealand, "Wellington. Henet Paekes.

Enclosure in No. 45. Sir, — General Post Office, Sydney, 31st December, 18GG. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to request that you will be good enough to move the Honorable the Colonial Secretary to point out to the Government of New Zealand, as the contracting party to the Panama Mail Service, the desirability of arrangements being made with the Imperial Government for the despatch of direct mails for Sydney from the General Post Office, London, by way of Panama, such mails to include all correspondence addressed to the Colonies which do not contribute to the cost of the existing Panama Mail Contract, viz., Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia. 2. I am further directed to suggest that Mr. Parkes be requested to bring under the notice of the Government of New Zealand the fact —that although certain charges are levied and accounted for to New South "Wales (to be halved with New Zealand) on correspondence despatched from the non-