MELBOURNE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

37

E.—No. 2.

RETURN showing the Population of the Australian Colonies and New Zealand, the estimated Number of Letters received and despatched by the Colonies, respectively, the Contract Time of the Outward Voyage by the several Postal Routes, and the Amounts contributed by the United Kingdom and the Colonies towards the maintenance of Steam Postal Communication between Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.

Estimated Number of Letters received and despatched during one Year. Contract Time—Outward Voyage. Amount Contributed. Country. Population. of Servioe via Batavia. Total. Letters. Via Galle. Via Panama. Via Batavia. Via Q lie and Southampton Via Panama. Via Bati Marseilles. I »via and Southampton Via Galle. Via Panama. Marseilles. £ 8. d. 69,437 13 2 £ 8. d. £ e. d. £ s. d. 69,437 13 2 United Kingdom i Victoria 630,000 1,094,668 20,874 ■18 M 56 64 (JO 28,774 16 11 28,774 16 11 New South Wales 430,859 475,302 79,789* 1,016 51 57 56 52 58 14,63510 6 57,300 0 0 71,935 10 6 South Australia 165,000 251,423 3,120 M 52 59 57 63 17,098 1 0 17,098 1 0 New Zealand ... 220,000 758,843 250,000 65 61 49 59 G5 32,494 9 6 62,700 0 0 95,194 9 6 Queensland ... 100,000 242,124 53 50 59 50 50 9,474 7 4 45,000 0 0 54,474 7 4 Tasmania 100,000 82,176 50 GG 58 56 C2 3,138 13 11 3,138 13 11 Western Australia 34,644 719 9 2 719 9 2 1,645,859 2,939,180 176,773 1 6 120,000 0 0 45,000 0 0 840,773 1 * This is estimated from the actual number received and despatched during the quarter ended 31st December, 1866. corresponding reduction has taken place in the number of letters sent and received via Suez. The number of letters by the Panama route has incroased sinco then; and