D.—No. 7

No. IS. MESSES. E. HAMILTON AND C AA'ABU TO THE POSTMASTEB-GENEEAL. 5, Cannon-street, London, E.C, Ist April, 1863. My Loed, — We, the undersigned, being respectively authorised by the Government of New South Wales and New Zealand to open negotiations Avith Her Majesty's Government for the establishment of a monthly steam postal service between Panama and Sydney, via New Zealand, have the honor respectfully to request that your Lordship will be good enough to appoint a time for granting us a personal interview, at which we may inform your Lordship of the power with which we are invested, and of the grounds on which the Governments of the above-named Colonies ask for the assistance of Her Majesty's Government. We have, &c, Edwaed Hamilton, (Representative Agent for New South Wales). Crosbie Ward, (Postmaster-General of New Zealand). The Right Honorable Lord Stanley of Alderley, &c, &c, &c MINUTE ON THE ABOVE. Answered:—Lord Stanley will see them on Tuesday, the 14th April, at half-past two. O. T. Barlow. 6th April, 1863.

No. 19. MB. P. HILL TO MB. W. O. BOMAINE, C.B. General Post Office, 13th April, 1863. SIE, — The question of opening a communication with Australia, by the route of Panama, having again been raised, and having been referred for the report of the Postmaster-General, I am directed by his Lordship to request that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will be good enough to inform him whether a vessel, such as those now running between Southampton and St. Thomas, capable of performing the whole distance at the average rate of 10.V knots an hour, might not, in the opinion of their Lordships, be expected to run at a higher rate of speed between Panama and Sydney, in consideration of the generally favourable state of the seas in the Pacific ; and, if so, to what extent. I am, &c, F. Hill. W. G. Romaine, Esq., C.8., &c, &c. &c.

No. 20. ME. BOMAINE, C.8., TO THE SECEETABY TO THE POST OFFICE. Admiralty, 16th April, 1863. Sib — In reply to your letter of tho 13th instant, requesting to know at what speed steamers of a similar description to those employed by the Royal Mail Company betAveen Southampton and St. Thomas might bo expected to perform the voyages between Panama and Sydney, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request you will state to tho Postmaster-General that 10.} knots an hour, for such a long voyage, is as much as can be fairly expected. If the Pacific were as free from islands as the Atlantic, perhaps, from the calm state of the sea and its immunity from gales, a speed of 11 knots might be required; but steaming through the low Archipelagos by night will entail a strict look-out, and probably cause frequent sloAving of the engines, so that a speed of 10J knots is as much as should be required. I am, &c, W. G. Romaine. The Secretary to the Post Office.

42

PAPEKS EELATIVE TO THE