F.—3.

also intimated that Natal would gladly reciprocate; while only that day he had received from Simla, the summer residence of the Governor-General in India, the following message : " Hearty congratulations on New Zealand joining Imperial penny postage. India fully prepared reciprocate. No link more enduring than cheapened communication by post. —A. U. Fanshawe." Mr. Fanshawe was, he understood, a representative of the Government of the country. The honourable member would therefore see the extent of the boon it was proposed to grant to the colony after the Ist January next.

No. 19. The.Hon. the Postmaster-Genebal, Sydney, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 21st August, 1900. Eβ your cable 17th instant: In view of early approach of federation, the question of universal penny postage is not one for one or two colonies to settle. The question of penny postage throughout Australia and its extension to New Zealand will, of course, be one of the matters for consideration at the preliminary Conference proposed to be held.

No. 20. The Assistant Postmastee-Geneeal, Hongkong, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington. (Telegram.) • Hongkong, 22nd August, 1900. Hongkong reciprocates your greeting, and welcomes New Zealand on her adoption Imperial penny rate most; heartily.

No. 21. The Postmastee-Geneeal, Cape Town, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. (Telegram.) Cape Town, 23rd August, 1900. Imperial penny postage : Hearty congratulations. Will reduce concurrently.

No. 22. The Hon. the Postmastek - General, Melbourne, to the Hon. the Postmastee - Geneeal, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 23rd August, 1900. Congratulate you cordially on determination to establish penny post. Victorian Government at present considering proposal.

No. 23. The Eight Hon. the Seceetaby of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Govbenoe. (Telegram.) London, 24th August, 1900. Agent-Geneeal informs me that your Ministers propose universal penny postage Ist January. Highly appreciate spirit of proposal, but presume that it will apply only to United Kingdom, India, and colonies having adopted penny postage; otherwise Postal Union Convention infringed. Telegraph reply.

No. 24. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Peemiee. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— 24th August, 1900. I beg herewith to transmit copy of correspondence relating to the adoption by New Zealand of universal penny post, and, in reference thereto, to state that, in accordance with the suggestion of the General Post Office, I am requesting the Director-General of the Swiss Post Office to transfer the Hon. J. G. Ward"s cablegram, which he has received, to the Director of the International Bureau of the Postal Union. I have, &c, Walter Kennaway, For the Agent-General for New Zealand. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington.

[For Enclosure 1, see No. 9.]

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