TO THE GOVERNOR OE NEW ZEALAND.

7

A.—No. I a.

that upon those conditions the Government of this Colony is prepared to concur in such an alteration of existing postal arrangements as will provide for the delivery, by the mail steamers of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, under contract to Her Majesty's Government, of the South Australian mails at a port within the Colony. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. Cantebbuey.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 2 in No. 5. Memorandum for His Excellency the Eight Hon. Viscount Canterbury, K.C.B. The Despatch from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State, dated 30th December last, No. 117, inquiring whether the Government of this Colony desires to offer any objection to a proposal of the Government of South Australia, that the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's steam vessels should deliver the inward mails for South Australia at a port within the territories of that Colony, has received careful consideration from your Excellency's Ministers. Tour Excellency will no doubt remember that the question of landing the South Australian mails near Adelaide way one of those discussed by the Intercolonial Conference that assembled at Melbourne in the month of June last, when the following resolution, on the motion of Mr. Barrow, one of the representatives of South Australia, was agreed to by the Conference, and duly entered on the minutes of proceedings : — " That, in the opinion of this Conference, it is only equitable that the South Australian mails by " the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's steamers should be conveyed by them " direct to the port of Kangaroo Island, without any additional cost to the Colonies." Mr. Hart, on the part of South Australia, at the same time agreed to provide for the safety and quick despatch of the mail steamers. The above resolution was agreed to by the representatives of the Governments of all the Australian Colonies, —that of Queensland, which did not take part in the Conference, alone excepted, — and also by the representatives of Tasmania; and your Excellency's adyisers are still prepared to adhere generally to the terms of it. But since the period when the Conference was held, Lacepede Bay has been suggested as a port of call that would meet the wishes of. the Government of South Australia, and at the same time entail the least delay in the delivery of the remaining Australian mails. To the selection of this port the Government of Victoria would have no objection to offer, provided the extra expense, if any, is undertaken by the Colony of South Australia. The Despatch of the Earl of Kimberley is returned to your Excellency herewith. Chief Secretary's Office, Melbourne, 22nd April, 1871. James McCulloch.

Enclosure 3 in No. 5. Lord Belmore to Lord Kimberley. Mt Lord, — Government House, Sydney, Bth August, 1871. Referring to your Lordship's Despatch No. 104, of 30th December, 1870, and to my reply No. 26, of 24th February, 1871, I have now the honor to inform you that my Government, in reply to a communication from that of South Australia, stated that there will be no objection on its part to the mail steamer calling at a port in South Australia, provided the periods of arrival and departure from Sydney are not interfered with, and the Colony is not made liable for any additional expenditure, I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. Belmoee.

Enclosure 4 in No. 5. Mr. Herbert to the. Secretary to the Post Office. Sib, — Downing Street, 11th August, 1871. With reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the revision of the postal agreement with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which was desired by the Government of South Australia, I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acquaint you, for the information of the Postmaster-G-eneral, that a telegram has been received from Sir James Ferguson, stating that the Governments of New South Wales and Victoria have informed the South Australian Government that they do not object to the Peninsular and Oriental steamers calling at a South Australian port, provided the period's of arrival and departure are not interfered with, and that they are not made liable to additional expenditure. I have, &c, The Secretary to the Post Office. E. J. W. Heebeet.

Enclosure 5 in No. 5. Mr. Holland to the Secretary, General Post Office, Sib, — Downing Street, 9th September, 1871. With reference to the letter from this office of 22nd ultimo, and to your reply of the 24th ultimo (No. 455w), respecting the proposal that the steamers of the Peninsular and Oriental Company should call at a port in South Australia, I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you