11.—3 aI 1.—3a

1873. NEW ZEALAND.

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

(FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO.)

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency. No. 1. The Agent- Geneeal to the Hon. the Colonial Treasures. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 3rd May, 1873. I do myself the honor to transmit herewith, for the information of the Government, copy of a letter received from the General Post Office on the 22nd ultimo, from which it will be seen that the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have authorized the giving up to-New Zealand of the surplus, amounting to £1,534, which, after defraying all charges, has accrued to that Department from the correspondence conveyed in the mails between the United Kingdom and the Colony by the San Francisco route, from the commencement of that service in March, 1870, to June, 1872. I have, &c, I. E. Featiieeston, The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 1. Mr. J. Tilley to the Agent- Genebal. Sib,— Genera] Post Office, 22nd April, 1873. Having brought under the consideration of Her Majesty's Treasury the application made in your letter of the 15th ultimo, on behalf of the Government of New Zealand, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to inform you that he has received the authority of their Lordships for giving up to New Zealand the surplus, amounting to £1,534, which, after defraying all charges, has accrued to this Department from the correspondence conveyed in the mails between the United Kingdom and the Colony by the route of San Francisco, from the commencement of that service in March, 1870, to June, 1872. In communicating to you this decision, I have to state that, as the amount was originally charged against the Colony in the Postal Accounts, the Eeceiver and Accountant-General of this Department has been instructed to adjust the matter by placing the sum of £1,534 to the credit of New Zealand in the Postal Accounts for the fourth quarter of the year, 1872, which are now in process of preparation. I have, &c, John Tilley.

No. 2. The Hon. Henby Pabkes to the Hon. Colonial Seceetaet. Sib, — . Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, 23rd July, 1873. In reference to the contract made by New South Wales for a line of steam mail packets between Sydney and San Francisco (particulars of which have been communicated to you), I have the honor to inform you that this Government has now decided to withdraw from the position of seeking the co-operation of the other Colonies, and to throw the service open for the conveyance of letters to and from Australia and New Zealand for the postage only. 2. As you are aware, this Government had secured to it the choice between a mail delivery calculated at forty-five days, and one at forty days to and from Liverpool; and the contract has been closed for the service of twelve knots per hour, or 600 hours between Sydney and San Francisco.