F.—s

14

Each administration shall have the right to join to these rates an additional charge, on account of sea postage, which shall not exceed the maxima fixed for prepaid articles, by Article 111., clause 2, and Article IV., clause 2, of the Treaty of Berne. Nevertheless, should fractions result from tho conversion of the rates into the national currency, these fractions may be brought up to the unit. It is expressly understood that the additional rate of sea postage shall be levied but once, even should several maritime services participate in the conveyance. Article HI. For the conveyance by sea of the correspondence mentioned in the foregoing Article 11., the despatching office shall pay to the office or offices providing this conveyance a sum of —■ (1.) Twenty-five francs per kilogramme, net weight, for letters and post cards, and (2.) One franc per kilogramme, net weight, for articles specified in Article IV. of the treaty concluded at Berne on tho 9th of October, 1874. AVhen tho conveyance by sea is affected by two or more administrations, tho payment shall be divided between them on the basis of the distances traversed, without prejudice to other arrangements which may be agreed upon between the Post Offices concerned. No payment, however, shall be due for any conveyance by sea which does not exceed 300 nautical miles. Article IV. The correspondence, which, by virtue of the last clause of Article X. of the treaty concluded at Berne on the 9th of October, 1874, is subject to special expenses for conveyance, may be charged with an additional rate in proportion to these expenses. Article V. With regard to the provisions of Article XXVII. of the detailed regulations for the execution of the Treaty of Berne, concerning the division of the expenses of the International Office of the General Postal Union, it is agreed that India shall form part of the first class, and the whole of the French Colonies part of the third class contemplated by this article. Article VI. For the administration of posts, Germany ... ... Giinther. „ „ Austria ... ... Dewez. „ „ Hungary He'im. -r, ■, ■ ( Passiaux, » Belgium |p. Gife. „ „ Egypt ... ... Eugene Borel. ~ „ Spam ... ... J. De Hoyos Vte. de Manzanera. ~ „ France ... ... Ansault. For the Minister of Marine and of the French Colonies, on behalf of the French Colonies ... ... E. Roy. For the administration of posts, Great Britain ... Alan Maclean. ~ ~ British India ... Alan Maclean. ~ „ Italy ... ... Tantesio. ~ ~ The Netherlands ... Fofstede. „ ~ Sweden and Norway M. Bjornstjerna. Countries beyond sea to which the arrangement concluded at Berlin on 27fh January, 1876, is applicable: — 1. British India. Hindostan, British Burmah, Aden. 2. French Colonies. America. —Martinique, Guadaloupe and dependencies, French Guiana, St. Pierre-et-Miquelon. Africa. —Senegal and dependencies, Gaboon, Reunion, Mayotte and dependencies, St. Mary, Madagascar. Asia. —French Establishments in India: —viz., Pondicherry, Chandernagor, Karikal, Mahe, and Yanaon ; and in Cochin China. Oceania. —New Caledonia aud dependencies, Marquesas Islands, Tahiti, and the French portion of the Low Archipelago. [This arrangement, as signed, was in the French language only. The English translation was made in London.]

No. 7. Memorandum by Mr. Gray to tho Hon. the Postmaster-General. The department is now called upon to decide whether or not the colony shall enter the General Postal Union, in terms of the arrangement made at Berne on the 9th of October, 1874, and the amended conditions agreed to on the 27th of January, 1876. This question, on a former occasion, was answered in the negative ; but, further information having been furnished, it now seems desirable to modify, if not entirely alter, the decision arrived at in May, 1876.