THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 117

Post Office, announcing that in order to cover
the cost of transit through Egypt, it is intended
that on and after the 1st of April next, an ad-
ditional rate of one penny shall be levied on all
newspapers posted in the United Kingdom, ad-
dressed to Mauritius, Ceylon, or any of the
Australian Colonies, and forwarded via Suez
from Southampton—thereby making the total
charge upon such newspapers two-pence each.
You will also see that you are authorized to
adopt a similar regulation in regard to news-
papers sent to this country by the same route.
I have, &c.,
E. B. LYTTON.

Governor Gore Browne, C.B.,
&c., &c.,
&c.

Mr. Hill to Mr. Merivale.

General Post Office,
22nd February, 1859.

SIR,—I am directed by the Postmaster-
General to acquaint you, for the information
of Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, that to cover
the cost of the transit through Egypt, it is
intended, on the 1st April next, and thence-
forward, to levy an additional charge of one
penny each upon all newspapers posted in the
United Kingdom, addressed to Mauritius,
Ceylon, or any of the Australian Colonies, and
forwarded by way of Southampton; making
the total charge upon such newspapers two
pence each.

This transit rate has hitherto been charged
upon book packets only, but there seems to be
no sufficient reason for the anomaly; especially
considering that the cost of the conveyance of
the mails is greater than the whole amount of
postage derived from the correspondence, and
the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have
directed, therefore, by their warrant dated the
16th instant, that, from and after mentioned,
the transit rate shall be also collected on all
newspapers sent across the Isthmus of Suez

As this regulation will be equally applicable
to newspapers sent in the opposite direction,
I am to request that Sir Edward Lytton will
write to the Officers administering the Govern-
ments of Ceylon and Mauritius, and will ask
them to cause an additional rate of one penny
each to be collected in future upon all news-
papers addressed to the United Kingdom, and
sent via Southampton, such additional rate to
be accounted for to this Office in the Letter
Bill of the Mail by which the newspapers are
forwarded.

The Governors of the several Australian
Colonies should also be informed that they will
be entitled to adopt a similar regulation for the
collection of an additional rate of one penny
upon newspapers sent to the United Kingdom
via Suez and Southampton ; but under the ar-
rangement agreed upon for the division of the
postage upon Australian correspondence, the
whole sum collected on the newspapers will be
retained in the Colony.

I am desired at the same time to observe
that it has been foreseen that, for some little

time after the change takes effect, newspapers
will continue to be occasionally posted upon
which, through ignorance of the new regulation
the senders will only prepay the present rate of
one penny, and as it will not be advisable to stop
such newspapers, the Treasury Warrant provides
that those posted in this country under such
circumstances shall be sent forward charged
with the amount of the deficient postage
added to a fine of one penny. It is not in-
tended, however, that this course of proceeding
shall give rise to any accounts between this
Office and the Post Offices of Ceylon, Mauri-
tius, or Australia. The deficient postage and
fine is to be retained by the Colonial Post
Office collecting it.

A similar regulation should be made in
Ceylon, Mauritius, and the Australian Colo-
nies with respect to newspapers addressed to
the United Kingdom upon which the addi-
tional rate of postage is not prepaid, such
newspapers should be sent forward charged
with the deficient postage and a fine of one
penny.

I have only to add that it is not proposed to
increase the charge upon newspapers for-
warded via Marseilles and Suez, as the postage
now levied—three-pence each—is sufficient to
cover the transit rates paid for the convey-
ance of the newspapers through both France
and Egypt, and still leave a penny for the
ordinary postage on a newspaper from the
United Kingdom to a British Colony.

I am, &c.,
(Signed)
F. HILL.

H. Merivale, Esq., C.B.,
Colonial Office.

Downing Street,
16th March, 1859.

SIR,—With reference to my Circular Des-
patch, of the 5th instant, I transmit for your
information the copy of a further letter from
the General Post Office, stating that for the
reasons there specified, the period from which
the additional charge upon newspapers sent
via Southampton between the United King-
dom and places to the eastward of Suez, shall
take effect, has been postponed until the 1st of
January, 1860.

I have, &c.,
E. B. LYTTON.

Governor Gore Browne, C.B.
&c., &c.,
&c.

Mr. Hill to Mr. Merivale.

General Post Office,
12th March, 1859.

SIR,—With reference to my letter of the
22nd ultimo, respecting the additional charge
proposed to be levied upon newspapers sent by
way of Southampton between the United
Kingdom and places to the Eastward of Suez,
I am directed by the Postmaster-General to
acquaint you for the information of Secretary