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No. 11. Mr. Lambton to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sib,— Sydney, 20th August, 1885. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of two copies of the particulars and conditions of the renewal by your colony of the San Francisco mail Service contract, forwarded with your letter of the 6th instant. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. S. H. Lambton.

No. 12. Mr. Geay to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Sydney. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 6th August, 1885. In connection with the advertising for tenders for the renewal of the San Francisco mail Service, I have taken the liberty of informing the tenderers that the particulars and conditions may be seen at your office. May I ask you, therefore, to be so good as to give effect to this by distributing the forms when applied for. Ten copies have been forwarded you. I have, &c, W. Geay, The Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney. Secretary.

No. 13. The Hon. Sir J. Vogel to the Agent-General. Sir,—- General Post Office, Wellington, 14th August, 1885. I have the honour to forward to you six copies of the finally-revised particulars and conditions of contract for the new San Francisco mail service, which please substitute for those sent by the " Kimutaka." I also enclose copies of Hansard, Nos. 13 and 15, containing reports of the debates on the service, to which I draw your attention. You will observe that the House of Eepresentatives has limited the subsidy to £30,000 a year (the colony to retain the Australian postages), and also that the service between San Francisco and New Zealand must terminate at Auckland, and that the branch service to an Australian port is to be undertaken by vessels other than those of the main line. It may be found necessary to extend the time for receiving tenders ; in which case you will be informed by cable, and I may ask your assistance. I enclose a short cypher, should it be necessary to communicate by cable. I have, &c, Sir F. D. Bell, K.C.M.G., Julius Vogel, Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Postmaster-General.

No. 14. Mr. Lambton to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sib,— Sydney, 21st August, 1885. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, forwarding ten copies of the particulars and conditions of the renewal of the San Francisco mail service contract by your colony, and requesting that they may be distributed to the tenderers who may apply for them at this office ; and, in reply, to inform you that your request will be complied with by this department. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. S. H. Lambton.

No. 15. The Hon. Mr. Norton to the Hon. Sir J. Vogel. (Telegram.) Sydney, 17th September, 1885. My Cabinet objects to proposed Honolulu Mail Service, but will submit to Parliament any proposition to contribute not more than ten thousand to a four-weekly service 'Frisco, Auckland, Sydney, you retaining all contributions from other colonies. J. Norton, The Hon. Sir J. Vogel, Wellington. Postmaster-General.

No. 16, The Hon. J. Nobton to the Hon. Sir J. Vogel, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 18th September, 1885. Feom Auckland telegram published this morning in Sydney papers, I am afraid my last telegram to you may have been misunderstood. Let it be distinctly understood that my Government will not be a party to any junction service. James Norton, Sir Julius Vogel, Postmasier-General, Wellington. Postmaster-General.