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letter to the Governments of all the colonies concerned, as it might perhaps bo the means of their arriving at a joint decision in the matter, which would be very desirable. Three of the colonies viz., New South Wales, Western Australia, and New Zealand—have already declined to join the Union, but their decision was in each case evidently based upon an insufficient knowledge of the facts of the case, and if they found that they had been under a misapprehension on some points they might probably be induced to reconsider the matter. With regard to Victoria, much of what appears in this letter was reported to your Lordships in my letter of the 6th October last, but, in view of the importance of arriving at a joint decision, it may probably be deemed expedient to address another communication to the Governor of that colony. I have, &c, The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury. John Manners.

No. 6. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. Sic,— Downing Street, 25th May, 1877. I have the honor to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a letter from the London Post Office, enclosing a correspondence with the Berlin Post Office, in which the latter submits the desirability of all British Colonies joining the International Postal Union before the meeting of the Postal Congress at Paris in 1878. I enclose copies of tho arrangement of the 27th of January, 1876, regarding the admission of British India and the French Colonies, which is being applied to all countries and colonies now seeking admission. From the letter of the 15th of February from the General Post Office to the Treasury, enclosed in my circular despatch of the Ist of April, 1870, it appears that under that arrangement the single rate of postage may be made as high as sixpence. The undermentioned colonies* have already entered the Union under the same arrangement. I shall be glad to be informed as soon as possible of tho decision of your Government on the subject. I have, &c, The Officer Administering tho Government of New Zealand. Carnarvon.

Enclosure 1 in No. 6. The General Post Office to the Colonial Office. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 31st March, 1877. In the course of last month the Postmaster-General of the German Empire addressed a letter to this department, strongly urging the desirability of steps being taking for the early admission into the General Postal Union of all the British Colonies. He was informed, in reply, that Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies had already communicated with the Governor of every British Colony on the subject, and that, as a result of that communication, several of the colonies had expressed a desire to enter the Union, and that others would before long doubtless come to a similar determination. It was, however, pointed out that fiscal reasons might probably prevent some of the colonies from taking that course at present; and the cases of the Australian and South African Colonies were cited as having entered into expensive contracts for the conveyance of the mails, which might render it difficult for those colonies to sacrifice any portion of the postage revenue they at present receive for the sea conveyance of mails, in order to become members of the Union. In a rejoinder to the letter from this office, Dr. Stephan takes exception to this view, contending that postal subsidies are granted as much in the general interests of trade and commerce as for purely postal purposes. He suggests, therefore, that the colonies which have hitherto abstained from joining the Postal Union should be invited to reconsider this decision, and he thinks that, looking to the probability of all foreign countries seeking admission to tho Union, the colonies, rather than stand alone, will bo prepared to make some financial sacrifices for the sake of promoting the great advantage which would result from the universal character of the system. Lord John Manners thinks that tho Earl of Carnarvon will probably be of opinion that these views should be made known to the Governments of the several colonies which have hitherto declined to enter the Postal Union, and he directs me therefore to transmit copy of the correspondence that has taken place with the German Post Office. I have, &c, R. G. W Herbert, Esq., Colonial Office. Wm. Jas. Page.

Sab-Enclosure 1 to Enclosure i in No. 6. The Imperial German Postmaster-General to the General Post Office, London. (Copy Translation.) Berlin, 18th February, 1877. As the British Post Office is aware, the French Post Office brought forward, at the Conference which was held at Berne in the month of January, 1876, the proposal that the rates of payment for sea conveyance fixed by Article X. of the Postal Union Treaty of the 9fh October, 1874, of— 6 francs 50 centimes per kilogramme for letters, and 50 centimes per kilogramme for printed papers, &o, should be applied to all countries hereafter entering the Union. * Bermuda, Ceylon, Demarara, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Labuan, Mauritius, Straits, Trinidad,