TO THE GOVEBNOB OE NEW ZEALAND.

5

A.—No. la,

I have to instruct you, therefore, to act in accordance with that opinion, and to make a formal proclamation of the Act if you should not have already done so. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

No. 4. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 70.) Sir, — Downing Street, 12th October, 1871. I have read with satisfaction your Despatch No. 67, of the 6th of August, reporting the condition of Native affairs. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBERLEY.

No. 5. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 73.) Sir, — Downing Street, 20th October, 1871. You are aware that for some time past the Government of South Australia has been endeavouring to obtain an alteration in the arrangements with the Peninsular and Oriental Company, with the view of providing for the delivery of the South Australian mails at a port within the Colony. A correspondence, of which I enclose copies, has lately taken place on this subject between the Governors of New South Wales, Victoria, the General Post Office, the Agent-General of South Australia, and this office. I have caused Mr. Dutton to be informed, in reply to his letter of the 30th ultimo, that as this is a question affecting the interests of the Australian Colonies generally, it would be manifestly impossible for me to offer any opinion upon it without previously ascertaining the views of those Governments. I have accordingly to request that you will place yourself in communication with the Governor of South Australia, and that you will inform him whether your Government have any objection to offer to the proposals of the Company as conveyed in their letter to the General Post Office, of the 22nd of September, so far as the proposals affect the Colony under your Government. I have addressed a similar communication to the Governors of the other Australasian Colonies, and I have requested the Governor of South Australia to forward to me a copy of any communication he may receive from you on the subject. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBERLEY.

Enclosure 1 in No. 5. Sir P. Rogers to the Goyeeitqes of Victoeia and New Sotjth Wales. My Loud, — Downing Street, 30th December, 1870. The Governor of South Australia has represented to me, in a recent Despatch, that his Colonywas desirous of procuring a revision of the postal agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Peninsular and Oriental Company, so as to provide for the delivery of the South Australian mails at a port within the Colony. I communicated Sir James Ferguson's Despatch to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and I transmit to you a copy of a letter addressed to their Lordships by the direction of the PostmasterGeneral, enclosing one from the Peninsular and Oriental Company. I request that your Lordship will inform me whether your Responsible Advisers desire to offer any objection to the proposal of the South Australian Government. I have, &c, Governor the Eight Honourable Viscount Canterbury, K.C.B. F. Eoo-ees Governor the Eight Honourable the Earl of Belmore. (for the Earl of Kimberley). 2