THE PANAMA MAIL SERVICE.

31

E.—No. 1

stood that you coincide, the Government is fully sensible that the result is attributable to circumstances beyond your control, and that it is owing to your exertions that the position of this important question is not much more unsatisfactory than it is at present. I desire to convey to you the strong sense which the Government entertain of the public zeal which induced you, at its request, so promptly to undertake tho mission to New South Wales, and of the ability with which you discharged its duties. I have, &c, Crosbie AVard, Esq., M.G.A., Lyttelton. E. W. Stafford.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH CAPTAIN BENSON. No. 65. Copy of a Letter from Captain Benson to the Hon. JonN Hall. Panama New Zealand and Australian Eoyal Mail Company (Limited), Sydney, Melbourne, and New Zealand. Sib — Wellington, 13th July, 186 G. I beg respectfully to hope that you will be able to let me have the Panama Contract, duly signed, in time to transmit it to my Directors, in London, by the Suez mail hence on the 17th instant. In so doing, I desire to draw your attention to the fact that two of the ships are now at sea, with mails on board ; a third leaves Sydney to-morrow for this port and Panama ; and the fourth about duo in Australia to take her place on the line. Under these circumstances, I do hope I shall not again have to inform the Board of its still remaining in abeyance. I have, &c, , H. B. Benson, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. General Manager.

No. 66. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Gbat to Captain Benson. Sib ,— General Post Office, Wellington, 16th July, 1866. With reference to your letter of the 13th instant, requesting that the Panama Contract be forwarded to you, duly signed, in time to transmit the same to the Directors, in London, I am directed to inform you that the draft copy of the contract was referred to the Government of New South Wales; and has not since been received at this office, consequently the Postmaster-General is unable to furnish you with a signed copy. This he regrets, but probably the next mail from Sydney may bring the document. I have, &c, W. Geat, Captain Benson, Manager P.N.Z. and A.E..M. Company, Wellington. Acting Secretary.

No. 67. Copy of a Letter from Captain Benson to the Hon. John Hall. Panama New Zealand and Australian Royal Mail Company (Limited), Sydney, Melbourne, and "New Zealand. Sir,— 14th August, 18GG. I am constrained to remind you that another month has elapsed since .[ wrote you requesting the Panama Contract, duly signed, for transmission to my Directors, in London. I note in your last reply to my application for this document, that your inability to furnish it was consequent on the Government of New South Wales not having returned you a draft copy of it, and I beg respectfully to intimate that the Government alluded to is not a contracting party to it, therefore., taking into consideration the advanced state of the service, I trust that I shall not in this instance apply in vain. The favour of your reply in time for the Suez mail hence on the 17th instant will much oblige me. I have, &c, H. B. Benson, The Hon. the Postmaster-General. General Manager.

No. GB. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Gray to Captain Benson. Sib,— General Post Office, "Wellington, 17th August, 186 G. "With reference to your letter of the 14th instant, requesting that the contract for the Panama Mail Service be forwarded to you, signed, for transmission to England, I am directed to inform you, that tho draft copy has not yet been received from the Government of New South Wales, and this Government is consequently not in a position to furnish you with it, which the PostmasterGeneral very much regrets. I have, &c, Captain Benson, Manager P.N.Z. and A.E.M. Company, W. Geat, "Wellington. Acting Secretary.