E.—No. 3a,

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE IMPERIAL POST OFFICE. No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Mr. P. Hill to the Hon. JonN Hall. Sir,— General Post Office, London, 18th April, 1867. With reference to my letter of 31st January last, proposing an arrangement for the exchange by weight in bulk of tho correspondence transmitted between tho United Kingdom and New Zealand, by way of Panama, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to inform you, that special accounts of the correspondence so forwarded having been taken, tho Receiver and Accountant-General of this Department estimates as follows the rates which should be mutually accounted for by the Imperial and Colonial Post Offices respectively, per ounce for letters, and per pound for newspapers. The Imperial Post Office to account to the Post Office of New Zealand on correspondence sent to the Colony via Panama : — For paid letters, at one shilling and fourpence per ounce. Por newspapers, at one shilling aud sixpence and three-sixteenths per pound. Por book packets, at one shilling and ono penny per pound. The Post Olfice of New Zealand to account to the Imperial Post Office on correspondence sent from the Colony to this country via Panama. Por paid letters at threepence and three-eighths per ounce. Por book packets at fivepence and seven-eighths per pound. His Grace requests to be informed whether you agree to these rates. A similar letter has been addressed to the Postmaster-General of New South Wales. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, &c, Wellington, New Zealand. F. Hill.

No. 2. Copy of a Letter from Mr. P. Hill to the Hon. John Hall. Sir, — General Post Office, London, Ist June, 1867. I am glad to bo enabled to inform you that the Panama Railroad Company have consented to reduce their charge for the conveyance of the British Mails across the Isthmus, so far, at least, as regards newspapers, books, and patterns, from elevenpence to fourpence per pound. The postage upon newspapers sent from the United Kingdom to New Zealand, via Panama, will, therefore, be at once reduced from fourpence to twopence per four ounces ; but as the postage charged upon books and patterns sent via Panama has been, at your request, already fixed at the same amount that is charged on similar articles sent via Suez, no alteration will be made in this respect. In order that the letter bags conveyed across the Isthmus may be distinguished from the newspaper bags, all the bags from this office containing letters will bo marked with the word " Letters," immediately following the address ; and, in like manner, you will, no doubt, cause all the letter bags forwarded by the New Zealand packets to Panama, to be distinguished from the bags containing newspapers, &c. Of course, this alteration in tho rate of postage on newspapers for New Zealand, will render necessary a revision of the rate per pound proposed in my letter of the 18th ultimo, as the rate to be accounted for by this office to the New Zealand office on newspapers according to their weight in bulk, and as soon as a fresh estimate can be prepared a further communication shall be made to you. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, &c, Wellington, New Zealand. P. Hill.

No. 3. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. John Hall to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 7th June, 1867. I have the honor to forward herewith for your information copy of a letter which I have received from the Postmaster-General of New South Wales, having reference to the transmission by the Sydney and Panama mail steamers of mails to and from the Colonies of Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Queensland, on which subject I addressed a letter to you on the 16th April last, No. 67. I have, &c, John Hall, The Secretary, General Post Office, London. Postmaster-General.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE PANAMA MAIL SERVICE.