THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 153

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, September 22nd, 1857.

THE following Despatch from Her Ma-
jesty's Principal Secretary of State for
the Colonies, is published for general informa-
tion.

E. W. STAFFORD.

Downing-street, 20th April, 1857.

SIR,—I have the honour to announce to you
that, in the afternoon of the 14th instant, the
Queen was happily delivered of a Princess.

It is very satisfactory to me to be able to add
that Her Majesty and the Infant Princess have
continued to do well up to the present time.

I have, &c.,
W. LABOUCHERE.

Governor Gore Browne,
&c., &c., &c.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, September 22nd, 1857.

THE following Acts passed by the General
Assembly of New Zealand, in the session
held in the nineteenth and twentieth years of
the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria,
intituled

"The Bank Paper Currency Act, 1856,"
"The New Zealand Colonial Bank of Issue
Winding-up Act, 1856,"

having been laid before the Queen, in con-
formity with the provisions of the Constitution
Act, Her Majesty has been graciously pleased
to leave the same to their operation.

E. W. STAFFORD.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, September 22nd, 1857.

THE following Ordinance passed by the
Superintendent and Provincial Council of
New Plymouth, Session 5, intituled

"The Slaughter House Ordinance, 1857,"

having been laid before the Governor, in con-
formity with the provisions of the Constitution
Act, His Excellency has been pleased to leave
the same to its operation.

E. W. STAFFORD.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, September 22nd, 1857.

THE following Bill passed by the Provincial
Council of the Province of New Plymouth,
Session 5, intituled

"The Loan Ordinance, 1857,"

which Bill was reserved for the signification of
the Governor's pleasure, having been laid
before the Governor, in conformity with the
provisions of the Constitution Act, His Excel-
lency has been pleased to assent to the same.

E. W. STAFFORD.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, September 22nd, 1857.

THE respective Postmasters throughout New
Zealand are directed to act in accordance
with the suggestions contained in the following
despatches.

E. W. STAFFORD.

General Post Office, London,
30th May, 1857.

SIR,—In the letter which I addressed to you
on the 18th October last, proposing in detail,
the several regulations which it seemed desi-
rable to adopt on the commencement of the
new Mail Service between the United King-
dom and Australia, it was stated that, as
regarded Newspapers, the arrangements exist-
ing at that time would not be disturbed.

As it appears only right, however, that the
principle laid down with regard to Letters sent
in the mails, by way of Marseilles, should also
be applied to Newspapers, and that the entire
postage charged upon Newspapers conveyed by
that route should be collected in the Colonies,
and, (with the exception of the French transit
rate) should be retained by the Colonial Post
Office, I am directed by the Postmaster General
to propose to you, that the weight in bulk of
such Newspapers shall be entered on the letter
bill in the same way that the weight of Letters
forwarded viâ Marseilles is entered, and that
your office shall afterwards account to this de-
partment for the French transit rate of 5d.
per pound, which is the rate stipulated to be
paid by this country to France upon News-
papers sent through that country in British
mails.

If this be done, the Newspapers will be
delivered in the United Kingdom without
charge.

With regard to the rate to be collected in
the colony upon the newspapers in question,
His Grace desires me to explain to you, that
the sum hitherto charged in this country has
been three-pence for each newspaper, two-
pence as the British rate, and one penny to
cover the French transit rate; and, as it is
desirable to maintain a high charge on these
papers to keep down the weight and bulk of
this express portion of the mail, I am to sug-
gest that a corresponding rate should be levied
in New Zealand.

I am, &c., &c.,
F. HILL.

The Postmaster-General,
Auckland, New Zealand.

General Post Office,
London, 4th June, 1857.

SIR,—I am directed by the Postmaster-
General to inform you, that the postage of
letters posted in the United Kingdom, addressed
to officers serving on board any of Her Ma-
jesty's ships on a foreign station, has been re-
duced to the uniform British rate of sixpence
the half ounce.

His Grace desires me to request, therefore,
that you will collect in future, upon letters of