THE PANAMA MAIL SERVICE.

43

E.—No. 2

The arrangement above described has, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement between New South Wales and New Zealand, been made subject to the approval of the Government of the former Colony ; and I shall feel obliged if you will inform me, at your early convenience, whether that Government concurs in the arrangement. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, John Hall, Sydney. Postmaster-General.

Enclosure in No. 49. Memorandum. Correspondence to and from Tahiti may be conveyed by the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail steamers between Panama and Opara or Auckland, as the case may be, as follows, viz.:— Ist, Correspondence for Tahiti. The following rates, to be credited to the joint account of New South Wales and New Zealand, irrespective of any charge which may be incurred for transmission to London or Panama, the full postage in all cases to be prepaid, viz.: —On Letters not exceeding -} oz., 6d. each; not exceeding 1 oz., Is. each ; not exceeding 2 oz., 2s. each, and so on at the rate of Is. per oz. or fractional part of an oz. On Newspapers, 2d. each. On Book and Pattern Packets not exceeding 4 oz., 4d. each ; not exceeding 8 oz., Bd. each; not exceeding 1 lb., Is. 4d. each, and so on at the rate of Bd. per -} lb. or fractional part of % lb. On Registered Letters, &c, 6d. each as registration fee, in addition. 2nd, Correspondence from Tahiti. As correspondence from. Tahiti will be prepaid to destination, therefore, in addition to the above rates, the foreign postage on correspondence for Foreign Countries, in accordance with a Table furnished by the London Office, will also be credited, —this department accounting to London or Panama therefor. Statements of the contents of the mails received at and despatched from Tahiti will be furnished to this department by the Government at Tahiti by every mail, from which the accounts will be prepared, and payment made to this Government every quarter.

No. 50. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Gisborne to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New South Wales. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir,-- Wellington, 14th October, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No 144, of the 9th ultimo, and in compliance with the request contained therein transmit to you the accompanying instrument under the hand of the Hon. the Postmaster-General of this Colony, appointing the Hon. Mr. Tighe to be his agent at the Port of Sydney in connection with the Panama Mail Service. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, W. Gisborne, New South Wales. Under Secretary, (for the Colonial Secretary.)

Enclosure in No. 50. To all to whom these presents shall come, I, John Hall, Her Majesty's PostmasterGeneral for the Colony of New Zealand, send, greeting: Whereas, by certain Articles of Agreement made the twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, between His- Excellency Sir George Ferguson Bowen, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of tho same, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Colony, of the one part, and the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail Company (Limited), of the other part, certain stipulations, terms and agreements were made and entered into for the conveyance by the said Company of mails between Panama, New Zealand and New South Wales: And whereas by the said Articles of Agreement it was amongst other things agreed that every master, commander, or officer of any vessel for the time being employed in the performance of the said agreement, duly authorized and intrusted by the Postmaster-General of New Zealand, with and having the charge and custody of mails, should himself, immediately on the arrival of any such vessel at any of the ports or places therein mentioned, deliver all mails for such port or place into the hands of the Postmaster, or such other person at the port or place as the PostmasterGeneral of New Zealand shall authorize to receive the same: And whereas by the said Articles of Agreement it is further agreed that the Postmaster-General of New Zealand shall have full power, whenever and so often as he may deem it requisite, to survey by any competent person he may appoint all or any of the vessels employed and to be employed in the performance of the said agreement, and the hulls thereof, and the engines, machinery, furniture, tackle, apparel, boats, stores, equipments, and the officers, engineers, and crew of every such vessel: And whereas by the said Articles of Agreement it is further agreed that the said Company, and all commanding and other officers of the vessels employed in the performance of tho said agreement, and all agents, seamen and servants of the Company, shall at all times punctually attend to the orders and directions of the Postmaster-General of New Zealand, his officers or agents, as to the mode, time, and place of landing, delivering and receiving of mails: And whereas by tho said Articles of Agreement the Postmaster-General of New Zealand is authorized 11