E.—No. 1

26

EURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO

No. 28 of this series.

No. 32 of this series.

Post Office in AVellington, and which tho Government will feel obliged if you will undertake to arrange with the Postmaster-General of New South Wales. I should bo glad if you could induce this officer to agree to a quarterly settlement of balances between the two post offices. 5. With regard to any further attempt to induce the Government of Victoria to contribute to the cost of the Panama Mail Service, —while the New Zealand Government is fully alive to the importance of this step being taken whenever tho proper time for it shall arrive, they are by no means certain that circumstances render it advisable to do so at the present moment. They feel that the desirability or otherwise of such a proceeding must depend to a great extent on facts which can only become known to you on your arrival in Australia, and they therefore leave it to your discretion to place yourself in communication with the Victorian Government, or not, as you may deem most expedient after you shall have visited Sydney. Any steps to bo taken by you in this respect should, however, be adopted only after consultation and in concert with the Government of New South Wales. In any case it will probably bo desirable that you should visit Melbourne, if only for the purpose of ascertaining the general state of public feeling there with regard to the Panama Mail Service. You are aware that steps have already been taken by this Government which it hopes will, at no distant date, considerably lessen the indisposition hitherto shown by A rictoria to contribute to tho cost of the service. 6. In addition to tho questions above referred to connected with the mail service to Panama, the Government will feel obliged if you will undertake to bring before the Governments of New South AVales and Victoria, the fairness and justice of a reasonable contribution being made by those Colonies to the cost of the mail steamers between Auckland and Sydney, and between Melbourne and Otago. The benefit of these services being shared between New Zealand and the Colonies in question, it seems but reasonable that some contribution should be made by the latter towards an expense which is incurred for joint benefit, more especially as a considerable amount -of postage must bo collected both in Sydney and Melbourne on letters forwarded by these steamers. 7. Having thus indicated to you tho views of the Government in regard to tho several questions above referred to, and having placed you more fully in possession of those views by personal communication, I have, in conclusion, only to express the hope which I confidently entertain, that New Zealand will derive very great advantage from the zeal and ability with which her interests will be advocated by you in the important negotiations now entrusted to your charge. 8. I beg to forward herewith printed and other papers affording full information on the various subjects with which you will have to deal, and beg you will be good enough to send them back to me on your return to New Zealand. I have, &c, John Hall, To Crosbie Ward, Esq., M.G.A. Postmaster-General.

No. 59. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Staffoed to the Hon. H. Paekes. Sic,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 22nd October, IS6G. I have the honor to state that this Government, believing that the questions which still remain unadjusted between the Government of New South Wales and New Zealand, in relation to the Panama Service, can be more promptly and satisfactorily settled by personal communication than by correspondence, has appointed Mr. Crosbie Ward, a Member of the New Zealand Legislature, to proceed to Sydney and confer with the Government of New South AVales in this matter. Mr. Ward, who negotiated with the Government of New South Wales, and with the Imperial Government, in 1863, for the establishment of the Panama Steam Service, and who initiated the original contract for that service, is thoroughly conversant with all the details of the subject, and can complete all arrangements still necessary between the Governments. I have accordingly to request that you will communicate with Mr. Ward as the duly authorized agent of the New Zealand Government. I have, &c., The Hon. tho Colonial Secretary, New South AVales. E. W. Staffoed.

No. GO. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Staffoed to Mr. Ceosbie Waed. Sih, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, sth November, 18G6. I have the honor to enclose for your information a copy of a letter, dated the 18th ultimo, from the Honorable the Chief Secretary of Victoria, on the subject of the Panama Steam Postal Service, and a copy of the reply which has been addressed to him. I have, &c, Crosbie Ward, Esq., care of the Hon. Colonial Secretary, E. W. Stafford. New South Wales.

No. 61. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Staffobd to Mr. Ceosbie Wabd. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 3rd December, 186 G. I have the honor to enclose a copy of a letter which I have this day addressed to the New South Wales Government, on the subject of the repayment of the advances made by this Government on account of that Colony in respect of the subsidy for the Steam Panama Postal Service, and to request you to be good enough to urge upon the New South AVales Government the necessity of immediately repaying the advances which have already been made, and of adopting measures to ensure