SAN ERANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

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E.—No. 4_

attached) enclosing copy of a contract entered into by the New Zealand Government for a monthly mail service between Sydney, Auckland, and San Erancisco. I have since learned that, during my absence, a letter has been addressed to you from Wellington on the 10th, in which complicated questions are discussed. I beg therefore to request that you will cause the letter dated from Wellington to be cancelled, and that my letter of the Bth instant from Auckland be adhered to. I have also to request that you will be good enough to cause the necessary arrangements for the transmission of Newr Zealand and Australian mails between San Erancisco and the United Kingdom to be made by your Department. I beg to express the hope that the Imperial Government will regard this very important service favourably, and contribute liberally towards its maintenance in such manner as referred to in the concluding paragraph of my letter to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, besides undertaking all the charges under the convention with the United States Government. I have, See., The Secretary, General Post Office, Julius Vogel, London. Postmaster-General.

No. 19. The Hon. W. Fox to the Governor of California. Sir, — Government Offices, Wellington, 25th March, 1870. The Government of New Zealand cannot allow the steamer which is to commence the new line of mail communication with California to depart, without bearing with it, on behalf of this Colony, a warm and cordial expression of congratulation and rejoicing, that henceforth we may hope to be in regular monthly communication with the great State over which you preside. I can assure you that the inhabitants of New 7 Zealand view with much pleasure the prospect of close and friendly relations with the inhabitants of California, to which they anticipate the mail service will lead. They hope, moreover, that commercial results beneficial to both countries will arise. I have ventured to think that the Public Records of New Zealand will not be without interest to you, and send you those mentioned in the enclosed list. I shall be very glad to forward to you any of our productions or plants which you may desire to receive; and we shall value as a great addition to our Parliamentary Library, such of the Public Records and Acts of California as you are able to spare. I have, &c. His Excellency the Governor of California. W. Fox.

No. 20. The Hon. W. Gisborne to the Hon. the Chiee Secretary, Tasmania. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir,— Wellington 28th February, 1870. I have the honor to enclose copy of a Contract entered into by the Government of this Colony for the establishment of a monthly Mail Service between Sydney, Auckland, and San Francisco. I need not point out to you the advantages wliich will accrue to the Australasian Colonies from such a service, by being brought, as they will be, into quick and regular communication with the United Kingdom, the Continent of America, and tho West Indies. The first outward mail will leave Sydney on the 26th March next, and the first inward mail will leave San Erancisco on the 10th April. Special arrangements for transmission of the mails between San Erancisco and London via New York have not been completed. In the meantime these will be forwarded under the terms of a Postal Convention between the Imperial Government and the Government of the United States, so that no interruption will take place. An Agent will be sent through to New York with the mails. You will observe that the subsidy is not very large; much of the success of the undertaking depends on the other Colonies joining in a contribution to the contractors. From New South Wales and Queensland £10,000 is asked, from Victoria £6,000, and from Tasmania and South Australia £1,500 each. I trust that your Government will be able to co-operate in this important service by a contribution to the amount named. I have, &c. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Tasmania. W. Gisborne. [Letter, of similar tenor and date, No. 52, to the Chief Secretary, Adelaide, South Australia.]

No. 21. The Chief Secretary, South Australia, to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir,— Chief Secretary's Office, Adelaide, 13th April, 1870. I have the honor, by desire of His Excellency the Officer administering the Government, to inform you, in reply to your letter of the 28th February last, on the subject of a subsidy to the Mail 4