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sideration, the interests of the colonies we represent will be best served by sending our mails as we have requested, in the boats leaving New York on the Wednesdays and Saturdays only. The arrangement hitherto in force for sending the colonial mails from New York by the first boat leaving New York, irrespective of the question which vessel is most likely to reach England first, has been attended with delay and disappointment. If we find, after a fair trial, that the plan now proposed is not so good as that hitherto in force, we can but fall back upon the old arrangement. I have, &c, Thomas Russell, The Secretary, General Post Office. (for Sir Daniel Cooper and self).

No. 4. Copy of Despatch from the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G. My Lord, — Downing Street, 7th September, 1875. With reference to my despatch of the 23rd of March last, relating to the Fijian postal arrangements, I have the honor to transmit to you, for your information the enclosed copies of a further correspondence on this subject, as noted in the margin. You will observe that the Governor of Fiji has been desired to communicate with you and with the Governor of New South Wales in reference to the suggestions made in the letter from the General Post Office of the 3rd instant. I have, &c, Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, Carnarvon. K.C.M.G., &c.

Enclosure 1 in No. 4. Mr. Herbert to the Secretary to the General Post Office. Sir, — Downing Street, 19th August, 1875. With reference to your letter of the 18th of March, I am directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to transmit to you, for the information of the Postmaster-General, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Fiji, written from Sydney, reporting that he had entered into communication with the Governors of New South Wales and New Zealand on the subject of postal arrangements, and forwarding for the Postmaster-General's approval, specimens of the postage stamps temporarily in use in Fiji. I am desired to call attention to Sir A. Gordon's request, that letters bearing a sufficient number of these stamps to represent the rate of postage may, for the present, be considered as having been prepaid in the colony. I have, &c, The Secretary to the General Post Office. R. G. W. Herbert. Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 1 in No 4. Sir A. H. Gordon to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. My Lord, — Sydney, 14th June, 1875. I had the honor duly to receive your Lordship's despatch of the 23rd March, 1875, on the subject of Fiji postal arrangements, and have entered into communication with the Governors of New South Wales and New Zealand as therein directed. I find that by some oversight the postal stamps of the new colony approved and issued by the provisional Governor, Sir Hercules Robinson, K.C.M.G., have not as yet been communicated to the General Post Office in England for the information and approval of the Postmaster-General. I have therefore the honor now to enclose, for submission to the Postmaster-General, specimens of the postage stamps in use in the colony, and to request that letters bearing a sufficient number of them to represent the rate of postage may be considered as having been prepaid in the colony. These stamps, which are in fact those of the old Fijian Government with a " V.R." impressed upon them in place and in effacement of a " C.R." of the stamps formerly used, are of course only intended to be used temporarily, until proper stamps can be supplied in their place. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies. A. H. Gordon.

Enclosure 2 in No. 4. Mr. Tilley to Mr. Herbert. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 25th August, 1875. I have laid before the Postmaster-General your letter of the 19th instant, enclosing copy of a despatch from the Governor of Fiji, reporting that, in accordance with the instructions