F.—s

4

State, in which it is proposed to abandon the Southampton mail after January next, and to forward all mails by way of Brindisi at a reduced rate of postage. Ministers desire to inform His Excellency, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that there is no objection to the proposal, provided the reduced transit postage be sufficient to defray the charge for the carriage of the mails between Brindisi and Calais, and that, as at present, only specially-addressed correspondence for New Zealand be forwarded by way of Brindisi and Galle. Government Buildings, 18tli October, 1879. John Hall.

No. 5. Memorandum from His Excellency the Governor to Ministers. For the consideration of Ministers, in connection with the Premier's memorandum, received by me to-day. As the question of the sufficiency of the proposed postage to defray the charge between Brindisi and Calais seems now disposed of, perhaps the following telegram to the Secretary of State would meet the views of the Government: "Ministers have no objection to the proposed abandonment of the Southampton mail, provided only specially-addressed correspondence for New Zealand be sent by Brindisi." H.R., 22/10/79.

No. 6. Memorandum by Mr. Gray to the Hon. the Premier. The transit postage on the letter portion of the mails is now fixed at Id. per half-ounce, as already stated in the circular telegram. Lord John Manners admits, however, that " the amount derived from the supplementary charge of Id. per half-ounce will not be quite sufficient to cover the payments to France and Italy; but the loss which will fall upon the department "will probably be less than we should have to pay to the Peninsular and Oriental Company, or any other company by whose vessels the slow portion of the mails might be sent between England and Suez/ The transit postage on letters, as now reduced, is equal to 9s. 3|d. per kilogramme, while the charges to be paid the French and Italian Post Offices for the carriage of mails between Brindisi and Calais at the reduced rates will be 13s. 9d. per kilogramme, or a loss of 4s. Gjd. per kilogramme. If the London Post Office intends to make good this loss in respect of the transit of the homeward mails, it will only be necessary for this colony to stipulate that only speciallyaddressed correspondence be sent in the mails for transmission via Brindisi. In the letter from the London Post Office the rate payable the Italian Post Office is stated to be 100 francs per kilogramme, instead of 10 francs. W. Gray, General Post Office, 29th October, 1879. Secretary.

No. 7. Memorandum from the Hon. the Premier to His Excellency the Governor. Ministers would suggest the following addition to the proposed telegram : " And no charge exceeding transit postage is made on the colony for transmission through Prance and Italy." J. Hall, 3/11/79. Note.—Telegram to Secretary of State to above effect sent on 4th November.

No. 8. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, sth January., 1880. Has reduced rate Brindisi. postage been finally determined ? W. Gray, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Melbourne. Secretary, Post Office.

No. 9. Mr. Jackson to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 6th January, 1880. Reduced rates via Brindisi not yet notified. It is proposed after January to send all mails iia Brindisi, charging Southampton rates. Concurrence of neighbouring colonies in this arrangement has been invited. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office,. T. W. Jackson. ' Wellington.