SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

47

E.—No. 2c.

President and the Cabinet, that the necessary steps should be taken by Congress to secure the permanent establishment of a regular and rapid steam communication with the countries of Australasia, that body adjourned without perfecting the desired legislation. I trust, however, that the friendly disposition of the Government of the United States towards this important commercial enterprise will be evinced by favourable action in support of the existing service at the next Session of Congress. It is well known that the members of the Committee on Post Offices and Post Boads of the United States Senate, who have carefully considered the subject, have recommended the passage of a Bill granting a money subsidy in aid of this Mail Steamship Service. I am, &c, Jno. A. J. Creswell, The Hon. Gavan Duffy and the Hon. Julius Vogel. Postmaster-General.

No. 44. Dr. Featherston to the Hon. W. Gisborne. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Sir— Westminster, S.W., 9th May, 1872. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of letters I have addressed to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, in re soundings for cable between Australia and New Zealand, and survey of Mail Eoute between New Zealand and Honolulu. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. W. Gisborne, Wellington, New Zealand. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 44. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, My Lord,— Westminster, S.W., 7th May, 1872. I have the honor to bring under your consideration two questions of great and immediate interest to New Zealand, and of, I venture to say, equal importance to the United Kingdom. 1. It is quite certain that the telegraphic communication which will, within a very few months, be established between Australia and England, will be extended to New Zealand by means of a submarine cable. This will necessitate taking soundings between Australia and New Zealand. 2. New Zealand has entered into a contract for a monthly mail service between New Zealand and England, via San Francisco, for a term of ten years. By a recent telegram, I am informed that the Colony of Victoria has become a party to this contract. The service may consequently be regarded as permanently established. The course usually taken by steamers between Honolulu and New Zealand has been very inaccurately surveyed—if, indeed, it has been surveyed at all. Islands and shoals are laid down in the published charts, which, if they exist, are not found in the position assigned to them; and it is more than probable that other islands and shoals exist which have not yet been discovered. There is no doubt that, by this route, there will be a great passenger traffic, and it is therefore extremely desirable that an accurate survey of it should be made at once, and not delayed until some frightful catastrophe demonstrates its absolute necessity. With this bare statement of facts, I respectfully ask your Lordship to be pleased to ascertain whether the Lords of the Admiralty would be willing that the taking of these soundings and the execution of this survey should be undertaken by the officers of Her Majesty's ships on the Australian and Pacific stations. I have, &c, The Bight Honorable Earl Kimberley, I. E. Featherston, Secretary of State for the Colonies. Agent-General.

No. 45. Dr. Featherston to the Hon. W. Gisborne. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Sic,— Westminster, S.W., 12th July, 1872. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the replies received from Earl Kimberley to the letters I addressed to him on the 7th May last. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 45. Mr. N. T. Holland to Dr. Featherston. Sir,— Downing Street, 29th May, 1872. With reference to your letter of the 7th instant, I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, upon the question of taking soundings between New Zealand and Australia, and of a survey of the route to be taken by steamers between Honolulu and New Zealand. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. N. T. Holland. 13