F.—s

1878. NEW ZEALAND.

GENERAL POSTAL UNION (PAPERS RELATIVE TO).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Seceetaey of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Goyernoe. Sic, — Downing Street, 11th December, 1874. I transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, an extract from a letter from the Treasury, enclosing copies of a Treaty for the formation of a General Postal Union, which was signed at Berne on the 9th October last, and of the detailed regulations for the execution of the Treaty, which were concluded at Berne on the same date. The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury invite special attention to clause 3 of Article XVII. of the enclosed Treaty, and point out that, in the event of the Colonial Governments desiring to enter the Union, they will regard a reconsideration of the proportions of the charge for packet service borne by the Imperial and Colonial Exchequers respectively, as a necessary preliminary to their sanction to such a step, inasmuch as it would entail a considerable diminution in the receipts of the Post Office. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. Caenaeyon.

Enclosure in No. 1. Extbact of Letter from the Treasury to the Colonial Office, dated 30th November, 1874. My Lords are now informed that the Treaty was signed on the 9th ultimo, by the delegates of twentyone out of the twenty-two States represented at the Congress, the Government of France withholding the expression of their assent until the scheme had received the sanction of the National Assembly; and I am to enclose, for the information of the Secretary of State, six copies of the Treaty, and of the regulations for the execution of the Treaty, to each of which an English translation has been appended. I am to request that you will move the Earl of Carnarvon to send copies of the Treaties to the Governments of the larger colonies, such as Canada, the Australian Colonies, and New Zealand, should his Lordship think it desirable. I am further to request that you will invite his Lordship's special attention to clause 3 of Article XVII., and I am to state that, in the event of the Colonial Governments desiring to enter the Union, my Lords will regard a reconsideration of the proportions of the charge for packet services borne by the Imperial and Colonial Exchequers respectively, as a necessary preliminary to their sanction to such a step, inasmuch as it would entail a considerable diminution in the receipts of the Post Office.

No. 2. The Seceetaey of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Goveenoe. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, Ist June, 1875. With reference to my circular despatch of the 11th December last, forwarding copies of a Treaty signed at Berne on the 9th October, concerning the formation of a General Postal Union, and of the detailed regulations for its execution, I have now the honor to transmit to you, for your information, a copy of a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, enclosing a letter from the Postmaster-General announcing the ratification of the Treaty at Berne on the 3rd ultimo, and I have to request that the Treaty as laid before the Imperial Parliament, copies of which are herewith enclosed, may be published in the usual manner in the colony under your government. I have, &c., The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. Caenaeyon. I—E. 5.