D.—No. 2a

No. 5. CAPTAIN JOHNSON TO THE HONOBABLE THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL. Nelson, 14th August, 1863. blR, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 24th July, requesting me to inspect nd repoi-t upon the fitness of the " Phoebe" as mail steamer under contract, May, 1858, and to report that every preparation has been made for so doing, distance posts having been laid on the Boulder Bank by an officer of the Survey Department. I have, &c, R. Johnson, Inspector of Mail Steamers. The Honorable the Postmaster-General, Auckland.

CORRESPONDENCE BESPECTING CHARTER OF ONE OF NEW ZEALAND STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY'S STEAMERS, TO BUN BETWEEN WELLINGTON, WHANGANUL NEW PLYMOUTH, RAGLAN, AND MANUKAU.

No. 1. • THE HONOEABLE THE COLONIAL SECBETAKT TO THE HONOItABLE W. B. D. itANTELL. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, Gth July, 18G3. Sir, — I have the honor to request you to be good enough, on behalf of the Government, to make arrangements, as soon as practicable, for the charter of a .small Steamer to run constantly between the Ports of Wellington, Whanganui, Taranaki, and Manukau, calling at each Port for a Mail, and remaining twelve hours, if required, at each Port. The contract to last for three months certain, and to be afterwards terminable at a month's notice on either side. If such a Steamer cannot be chartered at Wellington, you are requested immediately to communicate with the Honorable Reader Wood, at Dunedin, in order that one may be at once obtained there. The Government are of opinion that it would be advisable to substitute, if possible, Porirua as the starting point and terminus, instead of Wellington, thus obviating the passage through the Straits. Of course, in this event, mounted couriers are to complete the line of communication between Wellington and Porirua. I have, &c, Alfbed Domett. The Honorable W. B. D. Mantel], Wellington.

No. 2. THE HONOBABLE THE COLONIAL SECBETABY TO THE HONOBABLE W. B. D. MANTELL. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 7th July, 1863. With reference to my letter, No. 374, of yesterday's date, on the subject of the proposed charter of a small Steamer to keep up constant communication between Wellington. Whanganui,

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