E.—No. 3a

8

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO

existing arrangements between this Colony and New Zealand, mails via Panama for the non-contracting Colonies can be sent either direct from New Zealand or through this office, as may from time to time be considered expedient by those Colonies. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, New Zealand. Secretary.

No. 25. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Stafford to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetary, New South "Wales. Sin, — Colonial Secretary's Office, AVellington, 17th September, 1867. In your letter No. 67-169 of the Ist ultimo, in reply to my Tetters, No. 188, dated the 16th May last, and No. 260, dated the 25th July, you informed me that the draft contract left with you by Mr. Crosbie Ward between the Government of New Zealand, and the Panama New Zealand and Australian Royal Mail Company, for the Panama Postal Service, would bo transmitted to me in a few days. I have not yet received the promised document, and I have again to direct your attention to the great inconvenience which this continued delay in its transmission occasions. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New South "Wales. E. W. Stafford.

No. 26. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Ceosbie Waed to Mr. Bidwell. Sic, — Panama, 13th June, 1867. Before leaving New Zealand I was made aware that a communication had been received by the Government of that Colony from the Panama Eailroad Company, undertaking, in compliance with a request previously made by that Government, to reduce the transit charge by railway across the Isthmus of Panama from twenty-two cents a pound to fourpence a pound on newspapers, book packets, and pattern parcels, contained in the New Zealand and Australian mails. Confidently trusting that tho undertaking so made would bo promptly given effect to, the New Zealand Government at once reduced the postage rate on newspapers from that Colony to Great Britain from threepence to one penny per copy. The result was a great increase in the number and weight of the newspapers despatched by the last mail, and received here by the s.s. " Mataura," and at the same time a considerable proportionate reduction in the postal revenue received from them. I am informed that no instructions have yet been received by the local Manager of the Eailway to make the reduction in tho charges above referred to. But lam confident that it is not the intention of the Eailroad Company, after the communication made to the New Zealand Government, to continue to press the payment of the old rate of charges, and so to involve tho Government in au unexpected and considerable loss on each mail. I have therefore the honor respectfully to request, on behalf of that Government, that you will take such steps as are best calculated in your opinion to remove the misapprehension which appears to exist on the subject, and to cause the promised reduction of charges on the heavy portion of the mail matter to take effect from the Ist instant, so as to include the mail received from New Zealand by the steamer " Mataura." I have, &c., C. T. Bidwell, Esq., British Packet Agent, Panama. Ceosbie Waed.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH CAPTAIN BENSON. No. 27. Copy of a Letter from Captain Benson to the Hon. John Hall. Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Boyal Mail Company (Limited). Sic— Wellington, 31st May, 1867. On the 2Sth of January last, I had the honor to receive a letter from you, intimating that tho Panama Contract had been sent to Sydney for the approval of the Government of New South Wales ; that Mr. Crosbie AVard had been unable, for certain reasons, to bring it back with him in December last; and that on your then intended visit to Australia to attend the Postal Conference, it should receive your attention. I now respectfully remind you that on the 15th proximo the Panama Mail Service will have been one year in operation, and the contract yet remains unsigned. On behalf of my Directors, I earnestly hope you will be good enough to let me have the document in question at your earliest convenience, for transmission to them, they having on several occasions lately drawn my attention to its long delay. I have, &c, H. B. Benson, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. General Manager.