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Enclosure in No. 29. Memorandum for His Excellency. The enclosed memorandum by the Secretary of the Post Office is, in compliance with the wish of the Postmaster-General, respectfully forwarded to His Excellency the Administrator of the Government, for the purposes of a reply, as far as it is at present possible, to the circular dated 17th January, respecting mail service. J. Ballancb, Wellington, 26th March, 1879. (in the absence of the Premier.)

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 29. Memorandum by the Secretary 'to the Post Office. 22nd March, 1879. It will not be possible to prepare, in time for the outgoing mail, a memorandum for His Excellency the Administrator of the Government for transmission to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in reply to the attached circular despatch; but it is submitted that, with reference to the concluding paragraph of the despatch, His Excellency be informed what arrangements have been entered into by the colony for the carriage of mails after the Ist of February, 1880, to any place on the Homeward route. The reply is, that this colony (in conjunction with that of New South Wales) entered into a contract in 1875, for a period of eight years, for the conveyance of mails between Sydney, Auckland, and San Francisco, and therefore the service does not expire until 1883. The Secretary of State also desires that some person may be instructed to represent the colony in London, fully empowered to conduct negotiations with Her Majesty's Government, and to conclude whatever agreement may be arrived at, in Conference, with respect to future postage payments by the Imperial Treasury to the Australasian Colonies in the matter of ocean mail services. The Postmaster-General having decided that the Agent-General shall be empowered to act on behalf of the colony, it is submitted that His Excellency be informed that that gentleman will be appointed, and fully advised of the views of the Government in reference to the circular despatch of the Secretary of State for the Colonies of the 17th January last. The Hon. the Postmaster-General. W. Gray.

No. 30. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, G.C.M.G., to the Bight Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach. (No. 5.) Government House, 'Wellington, Sir, —■ New Zealand, 2nd April, 1879. I have the honor to report to you that I have this day received from the Governor of South Australia a telegraphic message, of which the following is a copy :— " Received following message from Secretary of State : ' London, thirty-first. " —Convenient if your Government could telegraph instructions on my despatch " January seventeenth, last sentence. Please send this to other colonies except " Victoria.' " I have, &c, HERCULES ROBINSON. The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach.

No. 31. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach. (No. 6.) Government House, Wellington, Sir,— New Zealand, 9th April, 1879. I have the honor to report that I have to-day received from the Governor of New South Wales a telegraphic message, of which the following is a copy:— " Have received cablegram from the Secretary of State, 7th April: ' Cable to " South Africa urgently needed; can be constructed if Governments consent use " duplicate Australian cable of Eastern Extension Company. Company ask eight (! months for laying Australian cable. Should count from first July instead of from