E.—No. 4

10

EAEERS RELATIVE TO THE

Postmaster-General will bo asked to give, by departmental arrangement, whatever allowance he can fairly and legally make for the transmission of the mails. I have, &c, The Hon. Julius Vogel, Esq., John Eobeetson. Postmaster-General of New Zealand, &_., Sydney.

No. 12. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Chiee Secretary, Melbourne. Sir, — Sydney, 11th January, 1870. I have honor to inform you that, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, 1 have succeeded in arranging a contract with Mr. H. H. Hall, of this city, for a steam mail service between Sydney and San Francisco via Honolulu. The particulars of it will be found in the copy of the contract forwarded herewith. I also forward copy of charter party between Mr. Hall and A.S.N. Co., for the steamers which are to be employed in the first instance in carrying out this contract. Although the service will be commenced in an unpretending manner, I trust its success will bo none the less assured. Much depends on the other Colonies helping tho contractor, and I hope you will see your way to aiding so important an undertaking. It is agreed by the contract that Victoria should be asked to contribute £6,000 per annum for its own use of the service, or £8,000 per annum if Tasmania and South Australia be included; Victoria in the latter case being at liberty to make such arrangements as may be mutually agreed on with those Colonies. I may mention that it is proposed, if Victoria does not make the arrangement with them, to ask from those Colonies £1,500 per annum each. The postages in all cases are to be retained by the Colonies contributing. I hope, pending a reference to Parliament, you will agree temporarily month by month to contribute to this service. I have asked Dr. Knight to see you on tho subject, as he is returning by way of Melbourne to New Zealand. I have, &c., The Chief Secretary, Sec, Melbourne. Julius VoSel. P.S. —You will observe that under the contract the Postmaster-General of New Zealand can. delegate any of the powers vested in him, so that in the event of your contributing to the service, an equal voice can be given to you in respect to the discretionary powers and privileges permitted under the contract.

No. 13. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Hon. tho Chiee Secretary, Melbourne. Sir, — Auckland, New Zealand, 7th Eebruary, 1870. Dr. Knight, who has returned by way of Auckland, informs me that you are anxious, before giving a final answer in regard to contribution to the Californian Service, to ascertain the arrangements for carrying the mails from San Francisco to London. No special arrangement has yet been made, but by a convention between Great Britain and the United States, the latter country is bound to forward on all closed mails received at San Francisco at a stipulated rate of charge. The mails are therefore safe to be properly conveyed, and the question of cost is not of much importance for a mail or two. Recently, the United States entered into a convention with the Colony of Hong Kong, very favourable to the latter, for the exchange of mails, and for forwarding them to any country from San Francisco, under precisely analogous circumstances to those which will affect the Australian, and Now Zealand Service ; and I do not doubt that a satisfactory arrangement may be made with tho United States by these Colonies. By one of the early mails some one will proceed from New Zealand authorized to treat with the United States on the subject, and I need not add I shall be glad if_the other Colonies contributing will also be represented. In the meanwhile, as I have said, the carriage of the mails is assured,—indeed, the Agent in charge of the first mails will probably go through with them to New York, and see them shipped there. I have addressed you in the absence of the Colonial Secretary, and because it is desirable your decision should be known as early as possible. I have, Sec, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Chief Secretary, Melbourne. Postmaster-General.

No. 14 The Hon. J. Vogel to Messrs. Roxburgh, Slade, and Spain. Gentlemen, — Auckland, New Zealand, 7th March, 1870. I enclose you copy of a letter received from H. 11. Hall, Esq., also one from the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, and my reply thereto, for you to hand to the Company, unless you are of opinion that the interests of the Government of New Zealand will be imperilled thereby. If so, I leave you to modify it if you think it necessary, or to obtain, a further letter from Mr. Hall before delivering it. I replied to Mr. Hall by a private note, telling him to apply to you, and you may already have settled the matter. I wish to do nothing that would prejudice our agreement with Mr. Hall, and give him an excuse for failing to fulfil his part of the contract. I have, Sec, Messrs. Roxburgh, Slade, and Spain, Solicitors, Sec, Julius Vogel, Sydney. Postmaster-General.