D.—No. 2a

employment of the steam ship "Paulet" in the New Zealand Mail Service under the Inter-colonial Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's contract. His Lordship would suggest that these Papers should be sent to the Governor of New Zealand, for his information, if possible by the mail of the 26th instant. I have, <fcc, F. Hill. Sir Frederick Rogers, Bart., Colonial Office.

No. 3. THE SECBETABV OF THE INTEB-COLONIAL BOYAL MAIL STEAM PACKET COMPANY TO THE SECBETABY OF THK GENERAL POST OFFICE. 41 Moorgate Street, February 3rd, 1863. Sir, — I have the honor to state for the information of the Postmaster-General that it is the desire of the Board of Directors that Officers of the Admiralty should be appointed to survey the Company's new Steamer " Paulet," and to be present at the Trial which is to take place on the River Tyne on Friday the 13th instant. The " Paulet" is eight hundred and twenty tons, Builders' Measurement, and is fitted with Engines of one hundred and fifty horse power nominal. She will be despatched to Sydney about the end of this month, and it is proposed to employ her in the New Zealand Mail Service. In making this application the Directors are aware that the Postmaster-General's powers under the Contract with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having been delegated to the Governor of New Zealand, the acceptance of the " Paulet " will rest with the Colonial Authorities. I have, (fee, James Worley. The Secretary of the General Post Office.

No. 4. THE SECBETABY OF THE GENEBAL POST OFFICE TO THE INTEB-COLONIAL BOYAL MAIL PACKET COMPANY. 3rd February, 1863. Sir, — I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day's date, and to inform you that, as on a former similar occasion, the Postmaster-General has requested the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to cause the Steam Ship " Paulet" to be surveyed as to her fitness to be employed in the Mail Service, under the Inter-colonial Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's Contract, for the purpose of enabling the Company to remedy any defects which may be pointed out, previous to the departure of the " Paulet" from this Country for New Zealand. I have, &c, F. Him. The I.C.RM.P. Company.

No. 5. " PAFLET " MAIL STEAMEB. —BEPOBT OF SUBVEY ON H0LL. Admiralty, 19th February, 1863. Sir,— In compliance with your directions in the letter from the General Post Office, dated 3rd instant, I have surveyed the new Iron Screw Steamer " Paulet" afloat on the Tyne, as to her fitness for the Mail Service under the Inter-cclonial Eoyal Mail Steam Packet Company's' Contract dated 28th May, 1858, and I beg to report that on a trial of speed at a measured mile near Tynemouth) on the 12th instant, she attained a mean speed of nine and seven-tenths knots per hour, with coals on board and dead weight said to be equivalent to a fair average general cargo, the wind blowing a strong breeze at the time.

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NEW ZEALAND MAIL SERVICE.