THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
255

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 30th June, 1863.

THE following Circular Despatch, with its
enclosure, from H.M. Principal Secretary
of State for the Colonies, is published for the
information of the public and the guidance of
the Postmasters throughout the Colony.

ALFRED DOMETT.

Downing Street,
23rd April, 1863.

Sir, I transmit to you herewith a copy of a
Letter from the Under Secretary of State for
the Foreign Department, with copies of a cor-
respondence between that Office and the Post
Office, by which you will perceive that, under
the peculiar circumstances of the time, Vessels
bound to Matamoros from the Ports in this
country have been relieved from the obligation
of carrying Ship Letter Mails.

I should wish you to take such steps as may
be necessary for extending the same immunity
to Ships sailing for Matamoros from the Ports
of the Colony under your Government.

I have &c.,
NEWCASTLE.

Governor Sir George Grey,
&c., &c,, &c.

Mr. HAMMOND TO SIR F. ROGERS.
Foreign Office, April 17th, 1863.

Sir, I am directed by Earl Russell to trans-
mit to you copies of a correspondence between
this Department and the General Post Office
respecting a suggestion made by Lord Russell
to the Post Office in consequence of represen-
tations addressed to his lordship, that under the
peculiar circumstances of the present time,
vessels bound to Matamoros from Ports in this
country or from Ports in Her Majesty's Colonies,
should be relieved from the obligation of carry-
ing ship-letter Mails, and I am to request that
in laying these papers before the Duke of
Newcastle, you will move his Grace to give the
requisite instructions to the several Colonial
Post Offices with a view to the adoption of a
regulation similar to that which the Postmaster-
General is about to put in force in this country.

I am, &c.,
(Signed) E. HAMMOND.

Sir F. Rogers, Bart.

MR. HAMMOND to MR. HILL.
Foreign Office, April 16th, 1863.

Sir, I am directed by Earl Russell to re-
quest that you will state to the Postmaster-
General that it has been represented to his
Lordship by persons interested in vessels
employed between this country and Matamoros,
that the circumstances of those vessels being
obliged to carry a ship-letter Mail, may, in
many cases, have an injurious effect on the
vessels if visited by U.S. Ships of War, inas-
much, as although the persons interested in
such vessels and their cargoes may, as far as
matters are within their control, be well assured
of the innocence of both, yet they can have no
such assurance in regard to the contents of
Mails entrusted to them by the Post Office,
which for aught they know, may include cor-
respondence to which the U.S., as a belligerent
power might fairly object.

I am therefore to request that you will state
to the Postmaster-General that Lord Russell is
of opinion that under the peculiar circumstan-
ces of the present time, vessels bound to
Matamoros either from Ports in this country, or
from Ports in Her Majesty's Colonies and
Possessions should be relieved from the obliga-
tion of carrying ship-letter Mails; and if the
Postmaster-Gennral should concur, Lord Rus-
sell would be glad to be informed of his doing
so, in order that he may apprize the parties by
whom the representation was made to him.

I am, &c.,
(Signed) E. HAMMOND.

F. Hill. Esq.

Mr. HILL TO Mr. HAMMOND.
General Post Office, April, 17th 1863.

Sir,-Having laid before the Portmaster-
General your letter of yesterday's date, I am
directed by his Lordship to request that you will
state to Earl Russell that he sees no objection
to the proposal made in that letter, that under
the peculiar circumstances of the present time,
vessels bound to Matamoros from Ports in this
country should be relieved from the obligation
of carrying ship-letter Mails, and orders, will
immediately be given that, for the present, no
ship-letter Mail be put on board any vessel
sailing for Matamoros, unless with the full con-
currence of the Commander.

With respect to vessels sailing from Ports in
Her Majesty's Colonies and Possessions, the
Postmaster-General would suggest that Earl
Russell should communicate with the Secretary
of State for the Colonies, as except at Malta
and Gibraltar, the management of the Posts in
the Colonies is now entirely under local con-
trol.

As bearing upon the present question, I am
to add that on the 2nd instant, the Brokers of
a steam vessel, called the "Sea Queen," bound
for Matamoros, wrote to this Office, stating
that they should be glad to take a mail by her.
But on the 11th instant, a further letter was
received from them, pointing out that for
reasons similar to those mentioned in your
letter, the owners wished to decline taking the
Mails for which they had previously applied.
Before the receipt, however, of that letter,
three Mails containing 8 letters and two news-
papers had been put on board the ship at
Gravesend, and the vessel had sailed.

This circumstance was communicated to the
Brokers yesterday; but the Postmaster-
General has now directed a further letter to be
written to them informing them that, if they
still desire that the Mails should not be carried
by the "Sea Queen," and will instruct the
Commander to put them on shore at Falmouth,
where it is understood the vessel is to call, his
Lordship will authorize the Postmaster of Fal-
mouth, by means of the Electric Telegraph, to
receive the Mails and to return them to
London.

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

E. Hammond, Esq.