F.—3

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table might with advantage be altered so as to allow a longer interval between the arrival of the inward and the departure of the outward mails. I quite agree with you that some alteration of the time-table is necessary; but I consider that the whole matter had better stand over until the permanent service is about to commence, before which period I will address you further on the subject. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Saul Samuel.

No. 25. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, New South Wales. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 11th September, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of your letter of the 11th ultimo, respecting the transmission of the New South Wales and New Zealand mails between Liverpool and America. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, New South Wales. Julius Vogel.

No. 26. The Eight Hon. the Secretary of State to Governor the Eight Hon. Sir James Fergusson, Bart., &c, &c. Sir,— • Downing Street, 19th March, 1874. With reference to previous correspondence, I transmit to you, for your .information, att extract from a letter from the Foreign Office, relating to the question of the harbour to be decided upon in the Fiji Islands, as a place of call for the line of mail steamers between Sydney and San Francisco. I have, &c, Governor the Eight Hon. Sir James Fergusson, Bart., &c. Carnarvon.

Enclosure in No. 26. Extract from a Letter from Mr. Lister to the Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, dated Foreign Office, 12th March, 1874. " The harbour of Levuka, is, however, considered, according to the Consul's report, to be preferable to Ngaloa Bay as the calling-place of the steamers in question, as it is the central place of the Fiji trade, and possesses a harbour available for use by night and day, whereas Ngaloa Bay is dangerous, owing to the leading marks being distant from five to seven miles from the entrance of the reef."

No. 27. The Hon. Saul Samuel to the Hon. the Postmaster-General. Sir,— General Post Office, Sydney, 17th July, 1874. I have the honor to enclose herewith, for your information, a copy of a letter received from the General Post Office, London, respecting a request made by the Director-General of the French Post Office for the use of the mail service, via San Francisco, in transmitting closed mails between France and New Caledonia. It is stated that, if the packets were maintained by the Imperial Post Office, the rate of payment for the conveyance of closed mails from France, as fixed by the terms of the Postal Convention between that country and the United Kingdom, would be, for a distance exceeding 2,000 miles, —for letters, If. 20c. per 30 grammes; for printed papers and patterns, If. per kilogramme; but that as the service in question is supported by this colony and New Zealand, it remains for the Postal Departments of the two colonies to determine whether they will accept the same rates of payment. I shall be glad to be made acquainted with your opinion upon this proposition. It seems to me that the arrangement proposed by the London postal authorities might be temporarily acceded to, but that they should be apprised of the conditions of the contract for the California service, as providing for the conveyance of all mails between the United Kingdom, other countries, and the Australian colonies, and that the contractors are entitled to subsidies or payments for the conveyance of mails of other countries ; so that, if closed mails are required to be carried between France and New Caledonia by the San Francisco mail steamers, the French Government ought to grant a subsidy to the contractors for the proposed service, the same being foreign to their contract. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Saul Samuel.

No. 28. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, New South "Wales. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 11th September, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 17th July last, enclosing copy of a letter received from the General Post Office, London, respecting a request made