SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE

21

R—No. 4.

No. 41. Air. H. 11. Hall to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sib,— Auckland, 14th October, 1870. As it is possible you may not be able to complete the arrangements you contemplate, for an alteration of the Californian Mail Service, in time to enable the altered service to bo commenced at the conclusion of my twelve months' contract, I hereby undertake to continue my service for as many months as you may request me to do so, upon the same terms as at present, provided that such request be forwarded to me not later than by the steamer leaving Auckland for Sydney in January next. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, New Zealand. H. H. Hall.

No. 42. Alemoeandum by the Hon. J. A r OGEL for His Excellency the Govebnob. Auckland, 22nd October, 1870. A communication is being addressed to the Governor of New Caledonia, inquiring whether the local Government are willing to make arrangements for connecting that settlement with the mail service between Auckland and Europe, via San Francisco and New York. His Excellency is aware that that service has been in operation for some months; and that the Government contemplate to very much improve it, and to make it permanent. It is probable that the local Government of New Caledonia, if able to enter into any arrangement such as that suggested, could only do so temporarily. Therefore the Postmaster-General desires to move His Excellency to cause, through the Colonial Office, inquiries to be made of the French Government, whether they are prepared to take steps for bringing New Caledonia permanently into connection with the Californian Alail Service. A steamer should leave Auckland for New Caledonia and Fiji immediately after the arrival of the mail boat from San Francisco ; and should return from Fiji and New Caledonia in time to connect with the steamer which leaves Auckland with the mails for the United States and Europe. The Postmaster-General is of opinion that, if arrangements for subsidizing a steamer to run between Auckland, New Caledonia, and Fiji, were made, the contribution required for conveying the New Caledonian mails to and from Auckland and San Francisco, would be very moderate in amount. The Postmaster-General suggests that the French Government should be asked to state what sum they would give for the through service, leaving it to the New Zealand Government to arrange for the branch service,—the balance of the amount paid by the French Government to be regarded as a contribution to the main line. Julius Vogel.

No. 43. The Hon. J. Vogel to His Excellency the Govebnob, New Caledonia. Sic, — Offices of the Colonial Government, Auckland, N.Z , 24th October, 1870. The Colonial Government of New Zealand have recently established a mail service between Auckland and San Francisco, with a view to direct communication with Europe, by means of the trans-continental railways to New York. The service has hitherto worked satisfactorily, considering the novelty of the circumstances, and the difficulties attendant upon some of its details. It is now contemplated by the Government to effect greatly improved and permanent arrangements. It appears to me that New Caledonia would be much benefited by being brought into direct connection with this Californian Alail Service. AVhat would be needed to secure such connection would be, that a steamer should run between Fiji, New Caledonia, and Auckland, arriving at Auckland before the departure of the boat for San Francisco, and starting again for New Caledonia and Fiji, immediately after the arrival of the boat from San Francisco. I think that a large subsidy would not be required to secure the efficient performance of that service; and if arrangements for such a steamer were made, only a moderate contribution would be asked for the conveyance of the New Caledonia mails to and from San Francisco. I shall be glad to be informed whether you are in a position to entertain the question of assisting to establish such a branch service as I have indicated; and if so, what arrangements, generally, you would be prepared to make. I have, Ac, His Excellency Al. Ruillier, Julius A togel, Governor, New Caledonia. Postmaster-General.

No. 44. Alemoeandum by the Hon. J. Vogel for His Excellency the Govebnob. Auckland, 22nd October, 1870. In view of the Postmaster-General or some other member of the New Zealand Government visiting Washington in January next, with the object of making arrangements connected with the Mail Service between New Zealand and Europe via San Francisco and New York, and for other purposes, will His Excellency be pleased, through the Colonial Office, to move the Foreign Office to request the British Alinister at Washington to extend his good offices to the Representative of the New Zealand Government ? Advice of such instructions having been given should be addressed to "The Postmaster-General, New Zealand, care of the British Embassy, AVashington," and a duplicate should be addressed to the care of the Bank of California, San Francisco. Julius A togel, Postmaster-General. 5