46

would be saved the expense, inconvenience, and delay, otherwise attendant on
a change from one vessel to another.

4. With this view it is advisable that tenders for the conveyance of Mails—first
   from Sydney to Manakau or Auckland,
   and secondly from the latter Ports to the
   Ports specified in the draft advertisement
   enclosed herewith—should be
   called for simultaneously, with an intimation that it is the desire of this
   Government that the two services should
   if possible be combined. Were this
   accomplished, two boats could convey the
   Mails from Sydney to Auckland or Manakau, and thence round the colony and
   back to Sydney; to which Port, rather
   than Melbourne, it is desired that the
   New Zealand Steamers should ply, as
   being at the same time cheaper, ensuring a communication both with Mel-
   bourne and Sydney (through the English steamers), and affording a means of
   getting direct from New Zealand to
   Sydney, which will in a few months, from
   the cessation of the subsisting arrangements with the William Denny, be
   otherwise wanting.

5. The three routes specified in the
   advertisement, for the Inter-Provincial
   Service, would, in the order in which
   they are respectively numbered, afford
   the most rapid medium for the distri-
   bution both of the English and New
   Zealand Mails. Of these the 1st route
   would effect a saving of four days in
   time over the 2nd, and of nearly a fort-
   night over the 3rd. But as some disincli-
   nation may be felt on the part of the
   Contractors to engage that the steamers
   should leave Manakau at stated periods,
   owing to the possible state of the bar
   during the prevalence of strong westerly
   gales, the 2nd route may possibly be
   preferred. The 3rd route, although
   affording somewhat more communication
   between the Southern Provinces, is
   objectionable from the additional time
   which would be required, thus delaying
   the transmission of replies to letters
   from England or Auckland, and increasing, from the time involved, the expense
   of transit. At the same time it is advisable that Tenders should be invited
   for it in order fairly to test the question
   of expense by the various routes which
   have been at different times proposed.
   For the same reason you will perceive
   that the advertisement invites Tenders
   for any other route which contractors
   might desire to take.

6. The route indicated in your letter
   would require three boats, none of which,
   however, would be fully employed; while
   therefore, no one boat would be doing
   as much as it might, some inconvenience
   and expense would be incurred by pas-
   sengers, especially to and from the
   Southern Ports, from the necessity of
   changing from one boat to another, and
   of waiting for the arrival of that boat in
   which they were finally to proceed. In
   a smaller degree this objection would
   also apply to the transmission of letters.

7. As the Government from the cir-
   cumstances that the decision as to one
   of the two services does not altogether
   rest with it, is precluded without further
   information from determining absolutely
   in this matter; and as it most desirable
   that an efficient Steam Service for New
   Zealand should be secured at as early a
   period as possible; it does not desire that,
   unless unavoidably necessary, any further
   reference should be made to it here, but
   relies on your judgment, after a full con-
   sideration of all the circumstances, to ef-
   fect that arrangement which may be the
   most advantageous to all parts of the
   Colony. Should your departure from
   Australia occur before an arrangement
   can be effected, Dr. Campbell, who will
   remain at Sydney and Melbourne for
   some time, is authorized to act on behalf
   of this Government, either at the Con-
   gress of Delegates, or otherwise, as oc-
   casion may require.

8. The Government of Victoria has ac-
   cordingly been informed that you, or in
   your absence, Dr. Campbell, will represent the New Zealand Government in
   this matter.

9. In concluding any contract it should
   be borne in mind, that with a view to any
   necessary modification of the terms, the
   contract should not be taken for a longer
   period than twelve months; nor must the
   cost of the Inter-Provincial Service exceed the sum of £10,000, being the
   amount voted for that service.

10. It remains to observe that the Government of Victoria may possibly have
    been led to expect, or may for other
    reasons desire, that Melbourne should
    be the port of arrival and departure for
    the New Zealand Branch Service; as
    this, for the reasons stated in paragraph
    4, would be disadvantageous to New
    Zealand, it must be insisted that Sydney
    is to be the port. On this question,
    Tasmania and South Australia are likely
    to be neutral, (although as the Sydne