A.—No. la.

38

FURTHER DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OE

No. 47. Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 58.) Sir,— Downing Street, 30th May, 1868. I have to call your attention to your predecessor's Despatch No. 30, of 4th April, 1867, enclosing a Memorandum from his Eesponsible Advisers, in which they declined to accede to the conditions on which it was proposed by Her Majesty's Government that one regiment of Imperial Forces should be left in New Zealand. I have also to refer you to my Despatch No. 29, of Ist June, 1867, in which I informed Sir George Grey that further instructions would be sent to him regarding the ultimate destination of the regiment then remaining. I have now to inform you that the services of that regiment will be required in the Australian Colonies for the purpose of relieving one of the regiments now stationed there. The opportunity will be taken of the presence of the " Himalaya," transport ship, in the Australian seas, for effecting the transfer of the 18th Regiment to New | South Wales, which may be expected to take place about the end of September. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.

No. 48. Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 60.) Sir,— Downing Street, 30th May, 1868. I have to inform you that I have been in communication with the General Post Office and the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, with the view of obviating the inconvenience occasioned by the absence of any provision for the transmission of telegrams between Point de Galle and the Australian Colonies. The Postmaster-General having stated that he was aware of no objection to Colonial Governments making their own arrangements with the Peninsular and Oriental Company for the conveyance of these telegrams, I requested the Company to enable me to inform the several Australian Governments to what officer on board their vessels the Directors would propose to entrust the charge of the telegrams, and what would be the demand which would be made for their conveyance. I transmit to you a copy of a letter which has been received from the Company in answer, enclosing one from the General Post Office. From this you will learn that the Directors propose to instruct the pursers of the Company's steamers on the Ceylon and Australian line to take charge of the telegrams which may be put on board, in conformity with the terms specified by the Postmaster-General, and that neither the Company nor the pursers will require any remuneration for this service. I request that you will take the necessary steps for giving publicity to this arrangement in the Colony under your Government. I have, &c, BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS. Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.

Enclosure in No. 48. Mr. Howell to Sir F. Bogees. Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's Offices, Sir,— 122, Leadenliall Street, London, 19th May, 18G8. With reference to your letter of the 6th instant, and its enclosure, and to previous correspondence respecting the conveyance of telegraphic messages between Point de Gallo and the Australian Colonies by this Company's steamers, I have the honor to acquaint you, for the information of the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, that in order to obviate the likelihood of any misunderstanding with the Post Office authorities, the Directors thought it advisable to submit the question to the Postmaster-General for any suggestions on points of detail which might occur to His Grace. In transmitting herewith copy of the reply received from the General Post Office, I beg to state that the Directors purpose to forward instructions by the mail of Friday next to the Pursers of the