3

NEW ZEALAND.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, November 20th, 1856.

SIR,—
With reference to the correspondence which
has taken place between this Government and
the Government of Victoria relative to the
establishment of a Branch Mail Service to New
Zealand, I am directed by the Colonial Secre-
tary to inform you that as this Government
desires to combine that service with the Inter-
Provincial Steam Service in New Zealand,
it has authorised the Honorable Henry Sewell,
Esq., or in his absence, Dr. J. L. Campbell,
lately a member of this Government, to
represent its wishes at the proposed conference
of delegates from the respective Colonies in-
terested.

These gentlemen have also been empowered
to invite and accept Tenders on the part of this
Government both for the Branch Service and
the Inter-Provincial Service.

I have, &c.,
W. GISBORNE,
Under Secretary.

The Honorable
the Chief Secretary,
Melbourne.

Sydney, Nov. 4th, 1856.

SIR,—
On my arrival at this place I communicated
with the Colonial Secretary on the subject of
the Steam Postal Service. I found that no
steps had been taken towards providing for the
Branch Service to New Zealand. In order to
move the question I left with the Colonial Se-
cretary a Memorandum of which I transmit a
copy, but to which I have not as yet received
any reply. At a subsequent interview with His
Excellency the Governor, I understood that the
matter would be immediately taken into con-
sideration.

In order to lose no time I put myself into
communication with the owners of the " William
Denny" (through Captain Mailler) and also with
the Australian Steam Packet Company, and
I learnt from them that they are desirous of
undertaking the Service. It will, however, be
impossible to fix definite terms until the Con-
tract for the Branch Service in connection with
the main line shall have been decided.

I have indicated my individual preference for
the following plan, which I recommend for the
consideration of the New Zealand Govern-
ment.

Two steamers to work the Branch Service
in connection with the main line—to and from
Sydney—one to take the Mails monthly from
Sydney to Auckland via the North Cape, thence
to Wellington, and thence touching for a few
hours, weather permitting, at New Plymouth
—the other taking the converse route fort-
nightly, i.e., touching at New Plymouth, thence
to Wellington, thence to Auckland and to re-
turn to Sydney viâ the North Cape. In addi-
tion to the above a small steamer of superior
quality to the Zingari, to work between Nelson,
Wellington, Canterbury and Otago, monthly,
staying at each port a moderate time for pas-
sengers and cargo, and arranging so that the
arrival at Wellington may be in time to meet
the homeward Mail steamer. If the "William
Denny" and the Company would unite the
service might be efficiently done. The "William
Denny" and the "Wonga Wonga" (a vessel of
greater power than the "Denny") would do the
Service from Sydney, and the "Boomerang," a
small but powerful vessel would perform the
Service for the Southern Settlements.

The cost of this would probably be about
£15,000 or £16,000. Of this I suppose the
General Contract would provide about £6000,
leaving the residue to be borne by the Colony.
In my opinion if such a Service were established
Auckland and Wellington, which would receive
a greater share of benefit than the other Pro-
vinces, should contribute in an increased pro-
portion, say Auckland £2000 a year, and Wel-
lington £1500 a year.

The result would be a perfectly efficient
Service monthly, and partly fortnightly, with
direct access to the main line from all the Pro-
vinces, as well as communication between the
Provinces themselves.

I think it would be better to regulate such a
Service by fixed days of arrival and departure
in preference to making it dependent on the
accidental arrival of English Mails as proposed
by the Melbourne Government.

It is improbable that anything will be done
before the next departure from Auckland,
of the "William Denny" and I shall be
obliged by your favouring me with the
views and instructions of the Government in
New Zealand which I will endeavour as far
as lies in my power to effectuate.

I have, &c.
HENRY SEWELL.

The Honorable,
the Colonial Secretary,
Auckland.

For the Colonial Secretary of
New South Wales.

Memorandum by Mr. Sewell on the part of
the New Zealand Government, relative to
the contract for the Steam Postal Service.

1. I understand the contract between the
   Imperial Government and the Glasgow Com-
   pany to be, that the latter shall carry the Mails
   of the five Australian Colonies—viz., Victoria,
   New South Wales, South Australia, Van Die-
   men's Land, and New Zealand, in consideration
   of an annual bonus of £175,000, of which half
   is to be paid by the Imperial Government and
   half by the Colonies, each to receive and retain
   its own Postal Revenue. The postage to be
   uniformly prepaid, the Imperial Government on
   its part, and each of the Colonies on its part, to
   be obliged to forward letters to their destination
   without further charge, using the local posts for
   that purpose without payment.

2. The proportion of bonus payable by the
   Colonies is to be apportioned between them ac-