CONVEYANCE OE MAILS VIA SUEZ.

5

E—No. 3.

A STATEMENT of CREDITS allowed to the Australian Colonies in 1866, on Accounts for previous Years.

No. 2. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Staffoed to the Eight Hon. the Eael of Cabnaeyox. (No. 389.) My Loed,- — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 7th December, 18GG. In the absence of the Governor, I have the honor to transmit to your Lordship the copy of a Memorandum addressed to His Excellency by the Postmaster-General of New Zealand, on the subject of the contribution of New Zealand towards the cost of the Steam Postal Service via Suez. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. E. "W. Staffoed. Enclosure in No. 2. Memorandum by the Hon. Joiin Hall for His Excellency the Goyebnob, on Suez Mail Service. 1. Ministers respectfully request His Excellency to forward to the Secretary of State the following Memorandum on the subject of the contributions to be paid by New Zealand to the cost of the Mail Service between Galle and Sydney. 2. Previous to the conclusion of the contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Company for the conveyance of mails from Galle to Sydney, which came into operation in February last, New Zealand was, in common with other Australian Colonies, invited by the Imperial Government to join in guaranteeing one-half of the cost of the new service on terms similar to thoso on which she contributed to the subsidy under the previous contract. This invitation is contained in a Treasury letter of 16th November, 1864, forwarded in Mr. Cardwell's Despatch of 25th November, 1864. 3. The only answer which has been given to the proposal of the Imperial Government is contained in a Memorandum by Mr. "Weld, dated 20th February, 1865, forwarded by the Governor to the Secretary of State on the 2nd March, 1865. In that Memorandum it is stated that the Colonial Ministers are not prepared to recommend the General Assembly to agree, without stipulation, to the Z

PBNALTIE3 INFLICTED and PSEHITTMS EaB* Mail Packet Service between Point de 1st July, 1860, to 31st Dec tED on the ] G-alle and i :ember, 186! Performance of the lydney, from Amount of Seduction of Subsidy for the abandonment of Admiralty Survey of Packets from 16th August to 31st December, 1865. >. Total Cbbdits TO Pc: Kilties. Pre: [iiuns. Colonies. Dates to No. Amounts. No. Amounts. !1 December, 1860 1 II March, 1861 ... • ... 4 10 June, 1861 10 10 September, 1861 11 December, 1861 1 11 March, 1862 2 10 June, 18G2 2 10 September, 1862 11 December, 1862 11 March, 1863 10 June, 1863 4 10 September, 1863 1 11 December, 1863 11 March, 1864 10 June, 1864 !0 September, 1864 11 December, 1864 11 March, 1865 10 June, 1865 10 September, 1865 9 11 December, 1865 4 38 1 4 10 200 800 2,000 3 6 0 G 2 3 5 3 150 300 300 300 100 150 250 150 £ s. d. £ a. d. 1 2 2 200 400 400 1 800 200 5 G 1 250 300 50 4 7 1 2 G 4 200 350 50 100 300 200 4 1,800 800 G2 10 125 0 0 0 88 7,600 70 ,3,500 Excess of Penalties over Premiums... *4,100 divisible between the Colonies 7,600 7,600 *187 10 0 2,050 93 15 0 2,143 15 0