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No. 19. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Postmaster-General. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 12th February, 1880. Referring to that portion of the Hon. the Premier's telegram of 17th January on the subject of the rates of postage to be charged by the Brindisi route, and to my reply by telegram of 24th January (copies enclosed), I have the honor to inform you that on communicating with the Colonial Office on the subject, in accordance with my instructions, a correspondence ensued, of which I now transmit a copy for your information. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 19. The Colonial Office to the Agent-General. Sir, — Downing Street, 23rd January, 1880. I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for your information, the accompanying copy of a despatch addressed to the Governor of New Zealand, forwarding to him a copy of a letter from the Treasury in reference to a telegram* (a copy of which is annexed) received from Sir Hercules Robinson in November last, relative to the postage rates via Brindisi to be charged after the abandonment of the Southampton mail route. I am to state that, according to the notice issued by the Post Office, which will be found printed in the Times of 31st December, 1879, the rates will be—7d. per half-ounce letter; newspapers, l^d. per four ounces; book-packets, patterns, &c, l^d. per two ounces, after the Ist of February. Sir Michael Hicks Beach desires me further to acquaint you that the Government of Victoria has proposed an arrangement by which letters to and from Victoria and South Australia would be carried via Brindisi for 6d., and newspapers for Id., under terms which, it is anticipated will very shortly be communicated to the other Australasian Governments, in order to ascertain whether they desire a similar agreement. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Robert Geo. Herbert.

Sub-Enclosure 1 to Enclosure 1 in No. 19. Sir Michael Hicks Beach to Sir Hercules Robinson. Sir, — Downing Street, 14th January, 1880. With reference to your telegram of the 4th of November last, relating to the abandon* ment of the Southampton mail route, which was duly communicated to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, I have the honor to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, the accompanying copy of a letter, written by direction of their Lordships, enclosing one from the Postmaster-General upon the subject of your telegram. I have, &c, Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, G.C.M.G., &c. M. E. Hicks Beach.

Sub-Enclosure 2 to Enclosure 1 in No. 19. The Treasury to the Colonial Office. Sib, — Treasury Chambers, 9th January, 1880. With reference to your letter of the 6th November last, transmitting copy of a telegram from the Governor of New Zealand as to letters for that colony to be hereafter conveyed via Brindisi, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit to you, for the information of Secretary Sir Michael Hicks Beach, copy of a report of the Post-master-General, dated the sth instant, on the subject. My Lords trust that the arrangements described in that report will prove satisfactory to the colony. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. R. R. W. Lingen.

Sub-Enclosure 3 to Enclosure 1 in No. 19. Lord John Manners to the Lords of the Treasury. My Lords, — General Post Office, sth January, 1880. I have the honor to return the enclosed Treasury reference, dated the 7th November last, enclosing a letter from the Colonial Office, with a telegram from the Governor of New Zealand conveying the views of his Ministers relative to the abandonment of the Southampton route for the conveyance of mails between this country and the Australian Colonies. It appears that the Government of New Zealand-entertain no objection to the abandonment of the Southampton mail, provided that only such correspondence for that colony as may be

* Vide Nos. 7 and 9 of present series.