D.—No. 2a

advantaged by " Claud Hamilton " taking the turn to Auckland, and thus enable me to carry out my plans for touching up " Ashley " and " Airedale." I am certain also the good folks of Auckland will be gratified by " Claud Hamilton " going there, and am quite sure she will make regular passages, whether her trial speed be a fraction under ten knots, or the contrary. I should like her, and indeed intended her eventually for that station. Having another superior boat in progress, I do not think it by any means asking too much that " Claud Hamilton " be used (in any case) as the spare or occasional vessel, until we have the new vessel, particularly as when " Claud Hamilton " was despatched from England, we had then four ships, and we could not foresee the loss of " Worsley." As you are leaving this part of the world, which I confess I regret much, I should be obliged if you would favour me with the conditional permission requested above—namely, that whether " Claud Hamilton " does or does not realise ten knots fully on trial, that she may go the next trip to Auckland, and be used as an occasional relief boat till our new one makes her appearance. I have, (fee., John Vine Hall. The Honorable the Postmaster-General.

No. 9. THE HONORABLE READER WOOD TO CAPTAIN J. V. HALL. General Post Office, Auckland, 28th November, 1862. Sir, — In reference to the correspondence that has taken place between Mr. Ward and yourself in Sydney, upon the subject of the speed of the " Claud Hamilton," I have now to forward for your information a copy of Mr. Johnson's report upon the sailing qualities of that vessel, and to inform you that, though the payment of her subsidy for this month will not be withheld, yet His Excellency's Government is anxious that no delay on your part should take place in forwarding for their information the official report from Sydney, to which you refer in your letter to Mr. Ward of the 14th instant. I have, «fec, PiEAder Wood, For the Postmaster-General. Captain J. Vine Hall, <fec, Sydney.

No. 10. CAPTAIN J. V. HALL TO THE HONOEABLE HEADER WOOD. Inter-colonial Royal Mail Company, Sydney, December 15th, 1862. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge your communication of 28th November, relative to the speed of the " Claud Hamilton." I regret very much, as I have already explained to Mr. Ward, that this vessel appears to be deficient in this respect, though in all others unexceptionable. I have a report of a trial at a measured mile in England (extract enclosed), which appears tolerably satisfactory, but I shall take the earliest opportunity of running her on the measured mile at this port, and reporting to you accordingly. I may observe that during the " Claud Hamilton's" recent service on the Coas£ she kept her dates punctually and gave universal satisfaction to the public. When the " Claud Hamilton " returns from her present voyage to Nelson, I trust you will allow her to make two or three trips to Auckland, during some repairs I wish to do to the "Ashley," and by which time I expect our new ship from England. I have, &c, John Vine Hall, General Manager, ICE, Mail Company. The Honorable Reader Wood, Auckland.

No. 11. MR. ELIOTT TO THE GENERAL MANAGER OF INTER-COLONIAL BOYAL MAIL COMPANY, NEW ZEALAND. General Post Office, Auckland, 26th December, 1862. Sir, — In reply to your letter of the 15th instant, respecting the s.s. "Claud Hamilton," I am directed to state that the Government cannot give an official permission to you to employ that

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