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1898. NEW ZEALAND.

OCEAN MAIL-SERVICES (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO). [In continuation of Paper F.-6b, presented on the 3rd December, 1897.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

msriDiETx: Page J Vancouver Service— P age San Francisco Service — Arranging Service .. .. .. .. 31 Renewal of Service. Shortening Time on Payment of Contribution by Imperial Post Voyage .. .. .. .. .. 1 Office .. .. .. .. .. 32 United States Territorial Transit Charges .. 22 Pacific, Canadian, and United States Transit. Departure from American Ports .. .. 24 Arrangement of Time-table .. .. 44 American-Spanish War: Effect on San Fran- Liquidation of Canadian-Australian R.M.S. Cisco Service .. .. .. .. 30 Company. Payment of Subsidy .. .. 54 Interprovincial Servioes .. .. .. 30

SAN FBANCISCO MAIL-SEEVICE.

EBNBWAL OP SERVICE : SHOETENING TIME ON VOYAGE. No. 1. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Peemiee. (Telegram.) London, 6th September, 1897. San Peancisco mail-service: Imperial Post Office wish to ascertain earliest date whether London mails will be despatched every fourth Saturday after 30th October.

No. 2. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Agent-Geneeal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 22nd September, 1897. Fe'isco mail-service: Contract extended 31st March, present time-table. Inform Imperial Post Office.

No. 8. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Pranciseo. (Telegram.) Wellington, 22nd September, 1897. Pe'isoo contract extended to 31st March. Inform Post Office.

No. 4. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dieectoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) Wellington, 22nd September, 1897. San Feancisco mail-service contract : In order to give Parliament opportunity to consider question of renewal, Postmaster-General desires to extend present service to 31st March on existing terms, Shall be glad to hear that you agree. Please reply early.

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No. 5. The Managing Dibectob, Union Steam Ship Company, Duriedin, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 24th September, 1897. Peoposal to extend present San Francisco mail-service to 31st March on existing terms considered at Board meeting yesterday, and directors are pleased to fall in with wishes of Postmaster-General.

No. 6. The Secebtaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmasteb-General, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 30th September, 1897. Postmaster-Genekal directs me to ask you to be good enough to inform the Hon. Mr. Cook that, in order to afford our Parliament opportunity to fully consider question Pacific mail-services, Frisco contract has been extended to end of March next.

No. 7. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dibectoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, Ist October, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 24th ultimo, agreeing to the extension of the San Francisco mail-service contract until the 31st March, 1898, on the existing terms. I have submitted your telegram to the Eight Hon. Mr. Seddon, who desires me to express his satisfaction at your concurrence. Jde, however, wishes it. to be understood that the renewal does not prejudice his right in the meantime to make any temporary arrangement for the conveyance of this colony's mails by the Sydney-Vancouver mail-steamers. I have, &c, The Managing Director, W. Geay, Secretary. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 8. The Secebtaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Poctmastee-Geneeal, Sydney Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, Ist October, 1897. I have the honour to confirm my telegram to you yesterday. . . . The Eight Hon. Mr. Seddon would be glad to learn that the contribution of your colony to the San Francisco service will be continued till that time [end of March next]. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 9. The Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Postal and Electric Telegraph Department, General Post Office, Sydney, Sib,— Ist October, 1897. Eeferring to your cablegram of the 30th ultimo, intimating that the Postmaster-General of New Zealand had extended the San Francisco mail-service to the end of March next, in order to afford your Parliament an opportunity of fully considering the question of Pacific mail-services, I am directed to inform you that, subject to the approval of Parliament, Mr. Cook has agreed to continue the service in question to the same date, on the present terms. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, Deputy Postmaster-General. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, New Zealand.

No. 10. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin, Sib,— 6th October, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your favour of the Ist instant re extension of San Francisco mail-service contract to the 31st March on existing terms. With regard to the last clause in your letter, we cannot, of course, challenge the right of the Hon. the Postmaster-General to send mails by another route, but I would respectfully

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Submit that the maintenance of the San Francisco mail-service is based upon a certain weight of letters being carried, and the deviation of any portion involves a corresponding loss to the contractors. Yours, &c, James Mills, Managing Director. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 11. The Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Geneeal, Washington. (Telegram.) Wellington, 3rd November, 1897. What prospect your Administration renewing subsidy San Francisco Australian mail-service for seven years? Improved steamers, three to four thousand tons; speed, sixteen to seventeen knots. Our Parliament considers question renewal in few days.

No. 12. The Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Washington, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington. (Telegram.) Washington, 3rd November, 1897. Subsidy referred to appropriated yearly by Congress ; not controlled by department.

No. 13. The Secbetaby, Auckland Harbour Board, to the Hon. the. Peemiee. Sib, — . Auckland, 3rd November, 1897. 1 have the honour, by direction of the Board, to inform you that at a special meeting held yesterday the question of the port of arrival and departure for Pacific mail-steamers was taken into consideration, and a series of resolutions in reference to this subject was adopted. Copies of the resolutions are herewith enclosed, to which I respectfully beg to refer. lam directed to point out that if the interests of the colony as a whole required from Auckland the sacrifice of any advantages attaching to the retention of the port of call, or if there was any room for doubt as to which port in New Zealand best served the oolony as the place of arrival and departure of mails, some hesitation might be felt in urging our claims, recognising that the common good of the colony should be paramount; but it is established beyond all doubt or question that there is a clear and positive advantage to the whole of New Zealand in having mails delivered at and despatched from Auckland. This advantage can be materially increased by substituting a faster steamer from the Manukau, and this will, I understand, be done shortly, as the Union Steam Ship Company have a new boat in course of construction for this trade. By way of reciprocity for any special benefits which might be enjoyed by Auckland, from its being the first port of call and the last of departure, the Auckland Harbour Board is willing to make such concessions in the way of reduced charges as the law will allow, in order that the colony as a whole may derive advantages likely to result from contractors for mail-services giving due weight to the special treatment of mail-steamers. This will mean practically that this Board is willing to treat its docks, wharves, and other appliances of the port as not merely property belonging to the Board but rather as colonial property, and are prepared to tax the community of Auckland for the benefit of the colony as a whole. I am directed to respectfully request the favour of your earnest attention to the matters referred to, which are of the utmost importance to this Board and the community of Auckland, and, trusting that you will give the views herein expressed your favourable consideration, I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. J. M. Beigham, Secretary.

Enclosure in No. 13. COPY OF EESOLUTIONS. 1. That communications be made to Messrs. Huddart, Parker, and Co., the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand and Messrs. Spreckels and Co., the Messageries Maritimes, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, North German Lloyds, and other steamship companies, pointing out the advantages and attractions of Auckland as a port, and offering— (1.) The use of the Auckland graving-docks to mail-steamers upon the same terms as are allowed to ships of war—namely, payment for coal, oil, and stores used only, and free of usual dock dues. (2.) The services of pilot and Harbourmaster for mail-steamers free. (3.) Specially favourable rates for storage and transhipment of cargo. (4.) Guarantee of first-class berth reserved for mail-steamers, free of charge, and every facility given for rapid discharge. 2. That the Government be informed that the Board is offering the special advantages named to mail-steamers. 3. That the Government be requested to notify the foregoing facts in the conditions for mailservices.

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4. That a circular letter be addressed to all members of Parliament (both Houses) representing Auckland Provincial District, impressing upon them the importance of their using every exertion to retain Auckland as the port of call for mail-steamers. J. M. Bbigham, Secretary and Treasurer.

No. 14. The Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmastee-Genebal, Sydney. Sic, — General Post Office, -Wellington, 6th November, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of your letter of the Ist ultimo, intimating that, subject to the, approval of Parliament, the Hon. Mr. Cook has agreed to continue the subsidy contributed by your colony to the San Francisco mail-service until the end of March next. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 15. The Seobetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secbetaby, Harbour Board, Auckland. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 12th November, 1897. I have the honour, by direction, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant, covering copy of resolutions passed by your Board, offering special advantages to ocean mail-steamers calling at Auckland, which will receive consideration. I have, &c, The Secretary, Auckland Harbour Board, Auckland. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 16. The Hon. the Peemibb and Colonial Tbeasueeb, Sydney, to the Hon. the Peemiee, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 15th November, 1897. Would be glad to see arrangements made which would secure a fortnightly Pacific service to both Vancouver and San Francisco. Hope you will help to forge another link of business between this colony and New Zealand.

No. 17. The Cleek, Newton Borough Council, to the Hon. the Pbemiee. Sib, — Newton Borough Council Office, 16th November, 1897. I have the honour, by direction of the above Council, to inform you that the Newton Council fully agrees with the Auckland Harbour Board that it is for the advantage of the whole of New Zealand that Auckland remain the port of call for the Pacific mail-steamers, more especially in view of the concessions the Harbour Board is prepared to make. They therefore trust that you will oppose any change being made. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier. J. Cueeie, Town Clerk.

No. 18. The Cleek, Newton Borough Council, to the Hon. the Ministee of Justice. Sic,— Newton Borough Council Office, 16th November, 1897. I have the honour, by direction of the above council, to inform you that the Newton Council fully agrees with the Auckland Harbour Board, that it is for the advantage of the whole of New Zealand that Auckland remain the port of call for the Pacific mail-steamers, more especially in view of the concessions the Harbour Board is prepared to make. They therefore request you, as one of the representatives of the district, to oppose any change being made. I have, &c, The Hon the Minister of Justice. J. Cueeie, Town Clerk.

No. 19. The Hon. Seceetaey, W 7 omen's Democratic Union, Auckland, to the Hon. the Pbemiee. Sic, — Great North Eoad, Auckland, 17th November, 1897. I am requested by the Women's Democratic Union to bring under your notice the following resolution : " That the Auckland members, as well as the Premier, be urged to put forth every effort to retain the San Francisco mail-service, with Auckland as the first port of call." I am, &c, E. Gibson, The Eight Hon. E. J, Seddon, Premier. Hon. Sec, W.D.U.

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No. 20. . The Sbcbetaby, Auckland Trades and Labour Council, to the Hon. the Minister of Justice. Sib, — Auckland, 18th November, 1897. I have been instructed by the above council to ask you to use your utmost influence to prevent the contemplated removal of port of call for San Francisco mail-steamers from Auckland to Wellington. Hoping the attempt to do so will be frustrated, I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Justice. Thos. Tudehope, Secretary.

No. 21. The Secretary, Eight-hours League of New Zealand, Auckland, to the Hon. Thomas Thompson. Eight-hours League of New Zealand, Williamson Avenue, Auckland, Dear Sir,— 22nd November, 1897. I have been instructed by the above league to forward the following resolution for your earnest consideration, passed at our meeting held on Friday, the 19th November, 1897, viz. : " That a circular letter be addressed to all members of Parliament (both Houses) representing the Auckland Provincial District, to the effect that the Auckland Harbour Board are offering every facility and entire freedom from all harbour dues to mail-steamers using Auckland as their port of call, and that the Government be requested to note these facts in the conditions for mail-services, and the Auckland members to use every exertion to retain Auckland as the port of call for mailsteamers, not only in the interests of Auckland but of the colony generally." I therefore venture to hope, sir, that you will do your best in the above interests. Yours, &c, The Hon. Thomas Thompson, M.H.E. John Creamer, Secretary.

No. 22. The Clerk, Newmarket Borough Council, to the Hon. the Premier. Sib, — Newmarket Borough Council Office, 24th November, 1897. I have the honour, by direction of the Newmarket Borough Council, to forward you a copy of resolutions passed by the Auckland Harbour Board re port of call for Pacific mail-steamers, which resolution this council heartily commends to your notice, and respectfully requests you to give effect to the same. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. William Hogg, Town Clerk. [For enclosure see enclosure in No. 13.]

No. .23. The Secretaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Hon. Secretary, Women's Democratic Union, Auckland. Madam, — General Post Office, Wellington, 24th November, 1897. 1 have the honour, by direction, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, in connection with the port of call in New Zealand of the San Francisco mail-service steamers, and, in reply, to inform you that the matter will receive consideration. I have, &c., W. Geay, Secretary, The Hon. Secretary, Women's Democratic Union, Auckland.

No. 24. The Secretaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Trades and Labour Council, Auckland, and the Town Clerk, Newton. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 24th November, 1897. I have the honour, by direction, to acknowledge the' receipt of your letter of the *16th (|lBth) instant to the Hon. Mr. Thompson, which has been referred to the Postmaster-General, in connection with the port of call in New Zealand of the steamers of the San Francisco mail-service, and, in reply, to inform you that the matter will receive consideration. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary.

* The Town Clerk, Newton, Auckland. † The Secretary, Auckland Trades and Labour Council, Auckland.

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No. 25. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington, to the Hon. the Premier, Sydney, (Telegram.) Wellington, 24th November, 1d97. San Francisco and Vancouver services : As United States subsidy to Frisco line expires in June next, and your agreement with Huddart terminates in May, 1899, I have advisedly decided to ask Parliament to extend Frisco service for twelve months from 31st March next, and to subsidise Vancouver line from Ist proximo until March, 1899. This will enable our Governments to consider question extended contracts both services next year, by which time the intentions of the United States will be known. Basis of proposed payments : Ten shillings and fivepence per pound letters ; one shilling per pound books, packets, &c, and sixpence per pound newspapers, with a guaranteed minimum of seven thousand five hundred pounds to each service. All contributions from other countries to go to contractors. Nineteen instead of twenty days Frisco and Auckland, and twentyone days Wellington and Vancouver. Hope that you will agree with me and continue contribution to Frisco service for extended term. Seeing the advantages to your colony from having terminus of line, I will be glad to hear that you see your way to increase your contribution.

No. 26. The Hon. the Premier and Colonial Treasurer, Sydney, to the Hon. the Premier, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 26th November, 1897. Am in receipt of your telegram of twenty-fourth re San Francisco and Vancouver services.

No. 27. The Hon. the Premier, Sydney, to the Hon. the Premier, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, Ist December, 1897. Learn of your proposal support Vancouver service with much satisfaction. Our subsidies to both San Francisco and Vancouver lines already high, amounting together to over £14,000 per annum. In addition, we support Suez route at heavy cost. Question of rearrangement of Pacific contracts cannot be entertained until Vancouver contract terminates—lB99. I concur in your proposal to make contract terminable same date as ours.

No. 28. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Town Clerk, Newmarket. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 3rd December, 1897. I have the honour, by direction, to inform you that your letter of the 24th ultimo, in reference to Auckland remaining the port of call for Pacific mail-steamers, will receive consideration. I have, &c, The Town Clerk, Newmarket, Auckland. W. Gray, Secretary.

No. 29. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. Sir, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 10th December,7. I have the honour to transmit herewith, for your information, copy of Supplementary Order Paper No. 13, of the House of Eepresentatives, showing the proposals of the Government in reference to the Pacific mail-services for the period ending the 31st March, 1899. I shall in the course of a few days advise you by cable of the arrangements to be made in respect of time-tables. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. E. J. Seddon.

Enclosure in No. 29. Supplementary Obdbe Paper, House of Representatives, Wednesday, the 24th Day op November, 1897. The Eight Hon. R. J. Seddon, in Committee of the Whole, to move the following resolutions : —> [Bead No. 32.]

No. 30. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Superintendent op Foreign Mails, Washington. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 10th December, 1897. I have the honour to inform you that the contract between this department and the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (Limited), with whom Messrs. Spreckels and Brothers

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Company, of San Francisco, are associated, for the performance of the mail-service between New Zealand and San Francisco, expired last month. The service has been temporarily extended to the 31st March next, pending parliamentary decision in the direction of renewing the Pacific service for a further period. As soon as action is definitely taken I shall have the pleasure to address you again in the matter. I have, &c, W. Gbay, Secretary. The Superintendent, Office of Foreign Mails, Post Office Department, Washington, D. C.

No. 31. The Hon. the Pkbmiee to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 11th December, 1897. San Francisco, Vancouver time-tables: May have to change date of despatch San Francisco mails from London. What days most suitable for both mails leaving London insure despatch by swiftest steamers for New York ?

No. 32. RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 18th DECEMBER, 1897. San Francisco Mail-service. Resolved, — 1. That this House authorises the Government to extend the San Francisco mail-service for twelve months from the 31st March, 1898. 2. That the basis of payment for the conveyance of mails from New Zealand to San Francisco shall be at the rate of 10s. sd. per pound for letters, Is. per pound for books, packets, &c, and 6d. per pound for newspapers, with a guaranteed minimum payment of £7,500. 3. That the port of call in the colony shall be Auckland. 4. That the time between San Francisco and Auckland shall not exceed nineteen days. 5. That no bonus shall be paid for early arrival, and penalties at the rate of £4 an hour to be enforced only when late delivery exceeds forty-eight hours. 6. That at least one New-Zealand-owned steamer shall be employed in the service. 7. That the steamers to be employed shall be of not less than 3,000 gross registered tonnage. 8. That all payments or contributions from Great Britain and other countries shall be receivable by the contractors. 9. That the passenger-rates and rates for freight shall be mutually agreed upon, and be fixed and embodied in the contract. 10. That the provisions of the existing agreement, where not at variance with these conditions, shall apply to any new contract made under this authority. 11. That a clause be embodied in the contract providing that not less than the current rate of wages ruling in New South Wales for steamboat seamen shall be paid by the contractor. Vancouver Mail-service. Resolved, — 1. That this House also empowers the Government to establish a four-weekly mail-service between New Zealand and Vancouver, British Columbia, by way of Fiji and Honolulu, from the Ist December, 1897, to the 31st March, 1899. 2. Payment for the conveyance of mails from New Zealand to Vancouver to be at the rate of 10s. sd. per pound for letters, Is. per pound for books, packets, &c, and 6d. per pound for newspapers, with a guaranteed minimum payment at the rate of £7,500 per annum. 8. That the port of call in New Zealand shall be Wellington. 4. The steamers to be employed to be of not less than 3,300 gross registered tonnage ; and th time between Wellington and Vancouver not to exceed twenty-one and one-half days. 5. No bonus to be paid for early arrival. A penalty at the rate of £4 an hour to be enforced when the late delivery of the mails exceeds forty-eight hours. 6. All payments or contributions from other countries to be receivable by the contractors. 7. The passenger accommodation to be of the best description, and suitable for the voyage through tropical latitudes. 8. The contractors to convey all mails tendered at Wellington and Vancouver by or on behalf of the Postmaster-General, and to provide sufficient and secure accommodation for the same. 9. The contractors also to provide suitable accommodation and lighting for the purpose of sorting mails on board the contract vessels. First-class accommodation, as required, to be provided for a mail-agent and assistant without charge. 10. The rates for passengers and cargo to be mutually agreed upon and embodied in the contract, the terms of which, where not inapplicable, to be similar to those set out in the provisional agreement entered into between the Hon. J. G. Ward and Mr. James Huddart, at London, on the 19th April, 1895.. (Vide F.-9, 1895.) 11. That a clause be embodied in the contract providing that not less than the current rate of wages ruling in New South Wales for steamboat seamen shall be paid by the contractor,

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No. 33. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dirbctoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) Wellington, 13th December, 1897. , Mail resolutions passed without material amendment, except that Vancouver service allowed halfday additional, and that wages seamen not less than rates now paid.

No. 34. The Hon. the Peemier, Wellington, to the Hon. the Peemibe, Sydney. (Telegram.) Premier's Office, Wellington, 14th December, 1897. Mail-sbevice resolutions passed House last night. I thought it advisable to increase time between Vancouver and Wellington by twelve hours.

No. 35. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dieectoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 14th December, 1897. Huddaet, as you know, urges that departure from San Francisco should be about a week earlier than at present, so that his steamers shall have three weeks at Sydney as at present. Have you given matter consideration ? Would be glad have your views as to most suitable time-table.

No. 36. The Hon. the Peemiee, Sydney, to the Hon. the Pebmiee. Wellington. (Telegram.) Premier's Office, Sydney, 16th December, 1897. Am in receipt of your telegram of fourteenth re. mail-service resolutions.

No. 37. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Diebctor, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 16th December, 1897. I have the honour to forward herewith three copies of resolutions passed by the House of Eepresentatives on the 13th instant on the subject of the San Francisco mail-service. You will observe that the House has authorised the Government to extend the San Francisco mail-service for twelve months from the 31st March, 1898, and I shall be obliged if you will inform me as early as possible whether your company agrees to the extension of the terms and conditions specified in the resolutions. . I have, &c, The Managing Director, W. Geay, Secretary. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 38. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Peemiee. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., (Telegram.) 18th December, 1897. Imperial Post Office advises it is impossible frame time-table so as to secure always despatch mails swiftest steamers. Best plan will be allow minimum time transit London, San Francisco, Vancouver, with understanding that New Zealand packet must wait until mails have arrived.

No. 39. % The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier, Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., (Telegram.) 20th December, 1897. San Francisco service, Vancouver service: According to Cunard's quarterly list sailings swiftest steamers leave Liverpool once every two weeks from 15th January to 12th March, then slower vessels.

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No. 40. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 20th December, 1897. Sir,-— Mail-services. Eeferring to cablegram, copy of which I attach [see No. 31], I beg herewith to transmit copy of correspondence with the Imperial Post Office with regard to the dates of despatch of the mails from London to New Zealand by the Pacific route, in which the opinion is expressed by the Imperial Post Office that it would be impossible to frame the time-tables of the New Zealand service so as to insure the continued despatch of the mails from London to New York by the swiftest steamers. I may add that the inquiries I have made in other quarters lead me to arrive at a similar conclusion. In order that the Government may have all the information I can gather respecting the matter, I have asked the Cunard Company, the White Star Company, and the American Company to furnish me with lists of the proposed sailings of their boats from Liverpool to New York, so far as they have been as yet fixed. As regards the fixing of the dates of despatch from and to New Zealand, I beg to suggest, for the consideration of the Government, that, if possible, the time between the receipt of the mails in London and the date of the next outgoing mail therefrom should be reduced, at all events as regards one of two Pacific routes. As at present arranged the San Francisco letters from New Zealand are, as a rule, delivered in London on the Thursday morning after the despatch on the previous Saturday of the mails to New Zealand, so that if that arrangement is continued, ten days will elapse before an opportunity occurn of sending replies. If this interval could be shortened it would, I think, be an advantage to both countries. ■ I also desire to suggest that on the establishment of both the San Francisco and Vancouver services there should be an understanding with the Imperial Post Office that all letters, &c, addressed to New Zealand should be sent by one or other of these routes, unless, of course, specially superscribed to go by any other. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure 1 in No. 40. The Agent-General to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, London. Sir,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 13th December, 1897. I have the honour to inform you that, in view of the establishment of a mail-service to New Zealand via Vancouver, my Government have under their consideration the question of fixing the dates of despatch of the mails to and from New Zealand, and in reference thereto I beg to request that you will favour me, for the information of my Government, with your opinion as to the days which would be most suitable for the mails by the San Francisco and Vancouver routes to leave London so as to insure their despatch by the swiftest steamers for New York. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, B.C. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure 2 in No. 40. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Agent-Genebal. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 8.C., 17th December, 1897. In reply to your letter of the 13th instant, I beg leave to inform you that, in order to have the best chance of conveyance by the fastest steamers available, it would be necessary that the mails to be exchanged between this country and New Zealand by means of the proposed alternating services via San Francisco and via Vancouver should be sent by the steamers of the Cunard Company, leaving Queenstown every Sunday, and New York every Saturday. The Cunard Company own the two fastest mail-steamers afloat—the " Lueania " and the "Campania"—and two other first-class steamers—the " Dmbria " and the " Etruria," which are capable of steaming about twenty knots an hour. It will be seen from the enclosed list of proposed sailings that it is the practice of the company to despatch these four steamers from Queenstown on Sundays in rotation, except on those occasions when a steamer is withdrawn for annual overhaul, and to replace her by another, a slower, steamer. The steamer which leaves Queenstown on any given Sunday starts from New York on her return voyage on the following Saturday week. Of course, if the rotation of the steamers were continued year by year without intermission the time-tables of the New Zealand service could be framed so that the-* mails might always be despatched from this country or from New York by the " Lueania " or " Campania " ; but, in view of the intermissions referred to, it would be impossible to do this. It is thought, therefore, that the best plan would be to arrange the time-tables irrespective of particular packets of the Cunard line, and to allow the minimum time required for the transit between London and San Francisco or Vancouver, as the case may be, on the understanding that if the mails from London arrive after the time named in the tables the packet for New Zealand shall wait for them.

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It is necessary, also, to point out that it is desirable to arrange, if possible, for a convenient interval for reply, both in the principal towns of the colony and in this country. So far as this country is concerned, the most satisfactory service would be a despatch in one week and an arrival in the next week, and so on, with about a week's interval for reply. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. H. Buxton Foeman.

No. 41. The Managing Directoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secebtaet, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sic, — Dunedin, 21st December, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your favour of the 16th instant, forwarding copies of the resolutions passed by the House of Representatives on the 13th instant, on the subject of the San Francisco mail-service, and asking the consent of the company to the extension of the present contract on the terms specified in the resolutions. I must express my regret that the Government have made a reduction in the emoluments attaching to the mail-service. I had hoped that they would have so arranged matters that they would have preserved to the company the amount of mail-money, both outwards and inwards, which they have enjoyed during the last few years. The guarantee of a minimum of £7,500 per annum for outward mailages from New Zealand is simply assuring us of a continuance of the present payment for the outward service, but, as the inward mailages will now be divided over the San Francisco and Vancouver services, I estimate that on this account the San Francisco line will suffer an apparent loss of £2,500 per annum. If the Government cannot do anything to protect us in this matter of inward mails we must perforce accept the position; we cannot, however, see our way to agree at the same time to the proposal to reduce by one day the time occupied on the voyage. To meet the Government as far as we can, however, we are prepared to shorten the voyage by one half-day, and deliver the mails at San Francisco in nineteen days and a half from Auckland, and subject to this modification we will agree to extend the contract to 31st March, 1899, on the terms specified. I note that the Postmaster-General, after consultation with the representatives of the Canadian and Australian line, has agreed to extend the time of their voyage from twenty-one to twenty-one days and a half. Although we have not been similarly approached, I think I may fairly claim that the same consideration should be shown to the San Francisco line. I have, &c, James Mills, Managing Director. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 42. The Sbceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd December, 1897. In framing draft time-table San Francisco-Vancouver services, advisable make slight change in present running. Propose that Vancouver steamer leave Sydney and Vancouver on Saturday and Thursday instead of previous Mondays, commencing first January from Sydney and sixteenth February from Vancouver. Steamers under proposed change will have seventeen days at Sydney and fourteen days at Vancouver. Contractors agree. Postmaster-General will be much obliged if your Minister will approve of change. San Francisco mails are to leave London and San Francisco week earlier than at present. First Vancouver mail from London on first January.

No. 43. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dieectoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd December, 1897. As you are aware, new time-table provides for San Francisco mails leaving London and San Francisco week earlier than at present. First Vancouver mail leaves London Ist January. Succeeding San Francisco mail on 15th instead of 22nd January. " Alameda," therefore, will have to depart San Francisco January 27th instead of February 3rd. Will you to-day confirm the earlier departure from San Francisco ? Important tha.t London Post Office should be advised by cable forthwith of fixed dates for Vancouver and change of date San Francisco mails.

No. 44. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secebtaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 22nd December, 1897. Have written you agreeing renewal contract subject to time being nineteen and half days. Date of departure from San Francisco cannot be altered on such short notice, as impossible to advise passengers en route, and probable many would be left behind. Think change of date should not be made until March, when present contract expires.

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No. 45. The Secebtaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the ' Managing Dieectob, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd December, 1897. Begeet you cannot see your way to alter Frisco departure next month. Vancouver mails leave London first January, and again on twenty-ninth- Under present time-table Frisco mails leave London twenty-second January and nineteenth February. The intervals, therefore, are three weeks and one week. This cannot be perpetuated until end of March. You should agree to the change commencing not later than February, which will give ample time for advising passengers. Please reply this afternoon.

No. 46. The Managing Dieectoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Seceetabt, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 22nd December, 1897. Ageee alteration dates. Commencing " Mariposa " from Frisco, 24th February.

No. 47. The Agent-Genekal to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,— 22nd December, 1897. Eeferring to my letter of the 20th instant, and to my cablegram of the 20th instant, I beg to transmit herewith list of proposed sailings from Liverpool to New York of the steamers belonging to the Cunard and White Star lines. I also enclose list of proposed sailings of the American line from Southampton to New York. I have, &c, Walter Kennaway, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. For the Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 47. The Geneeal Manages, Cunard Steamship Company (Limited), Liverpool, to the AgentGeneeal. Sir, — 8, Water Street, Liverpool, 21st December, 1897. We are favoured with yours of yesterday, and have pleasure in enclosing you our list of sailings for the whole of the ensuing year, and wifh respect to their speed would remark that the " Campania" and "Lucania," as a rule, deliver their mails in New York on the Friday, and the "Umbria" and " Etruria" on the Saturday, whilst the Tuesday boats deliver theirs on the Wednesday. Yours, &c, Thos. Boumpheey, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. General Manager.

Enclosure 2 in No. 47. The Agents, White Star Line, London, to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— 34, Leadenhall Street, 8.C., 21st December, 1897. As desired in your letter of yesterday's date we enclose list of our proposed sailings for next year in triplicate. The circular herewith will give you the fastest passage of each steamer, which will be a guide to the average passage, as we have no exact figures of latter that we can furnish you with. We are, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Ismay, Imeie, & Co.

Enclosure 3 in No. 47. The Agents, American Steamship Company, Southampton, to the Agent Geneeal. Sib, — Southampton, 22nd December, 1897. In reply to your letter of the 20th instant, addressed to our London office, we have pleasure in sending you three copies of our sailing lists, giving the sailings of the American line United States mail-steamers between Southampton and New York up to the end of the year 1898. These steamers leave here every Saturday at noon. The average passages of the steamers " St. Louis " and " St. Paul " is from six to six days and a half, and for the "New York " and " Paris " six days and a quarter to six days and three quarters, port to port. Yours, &c, PiICHABDSON, SPENCE, & Co. The Agent-General for New Zealand, London,

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No. 48. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Agent-Genebal. Premier's Office, Wellington, 23rd December, 1897. Sic, — Pacific Mail-services. Referring to my letter of the 10th instant, I have now the honour to inform you that the proposals of the Government in connection with the Pacific mail-services were approved by Parliament on the 13th idem, with slight alterations. I enclose copy of the resolutions as passed. It is proposed that the mails via Vancouver shall leave London on the Ist proximo, and on every fourth Saturday thereafter. The San Francisco mails will leave on the 22nd January, under the old time-table. The next San Francisco mail is to be despatched from London on the 12th February, and every fourth Saturday thereafter, thus giving a regular fortnightly despatch from London to New Zealand by way of America. From the colony the mails will leave Auckland via San Francisco on the 22nd proximo, and every fourth Saturday thereafter; and the Vancouver mails for January will be despatched from Wellington on Saturday, the Bth. On the next voyage the steamers will fall into the regular timetable, and leave Wellington on the 3rd February, and. afterwards at regular four-weekly intervals. Mails by one or the other route will reach London every alternate Wednesday. The January Vancouver mail will probably not arrive in London until the 11th February, but the succeeding despatch is timed to arrive on the 23rd of the same month, after which regular dates will be kept. I enclose six copies of the pro forma time-table for 1898. The time of the Vancouver mail between London and New Zealand is under thirty-five days, and from New Zealand to London under thirty-four days. Pending the establishing of the fast Atlantic service from Canada, mails will be transferred to and from the United States lines at Portal, and carried by the Atlantic steamers to and from New York and Queenstown. I shall be glad if you will communicate these arrangements to the Imperial Post Office. Now that the regular fortnightly service has been arranged, it is desired that correspondence for New Zealand should not be sent by the Federal route unless specially addressed, and I hope to hear that you are able to induce the London Post Office authorities to fall in with this proposal. Copies of the draft contract for the Vancouver service will be sent to you by an early mail. I have, &c, The Hon. W. P. Eeeves, E. J. Seddon. Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 49. The Hon. the Postmastee-Genebal, Wellington, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, London. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd December, 1897. Herewith I have the honour to forward, for your information, copies of the pro forma time-table of the mail-services between London and this colony by way of San Francisco and Vancouver. The Agent-General for New Zealand will, no doubt, ere this have conferred with you as to the inauguration of the Vancouver service and the introduction of this time-table. I have, &c, W. Gbay, For the Postmaster-General. The Secretary, General Post Office, London.

No. 50. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Supebintendent, Office of Foreign Mails, Washington. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd December, 1897. Eeferring to my letter of the 10th instant, I have now the honour to inform you that the Parliament of this colony has decided to renew the San Francisco mail-service for one year from the 31st March, 1898, and to establish a four-weekly mail-service between New Zealand and Vancouver by way of Fiji and Honolulu, as from the Ist December, 1897, to the 31st March, 1899. I enclose, for your information, copies of the pro forma time-table of the services. You will observe that the February steamer will leave San Francisco on the 3rd February, as already arranged, but that the following steamer will leave three wcoks thereafter, to enable the two services to alternate. I should be obliged if you would issue the necessary instructions to allow of the new running to be taken up on the 24th February. I may explain, for the information of the Postmaster-General, that it was decided to arrange for these services until the 31st March, 1899, in order that the intentions of your country might be ascertained in reference to the continuance of the subsidy hitherto paid to the Oceanic Steamship Company before entering into contracts for a longer term. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. The Superintendent, Office of Foreign Mails, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C,

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No. 51. The Secrbtaby, G-eneral Post Office, Wellington, to the Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd December, 1897. Eeferring to my letter of the 10th instant [not printed], I have now the honour to inform you that the proposals of the Government in connection with the Pacific mail-services were accepted l>y Parliament with slight alterations. I enclose copy of the resolutions as passed ; also pro forma time-table of the services by way of San Francisco and Vancouver. You will observe that the steamer from San Francisco leaves on the 3rd February, in continuation of the existing time-table, but that the following mail will leave San Francisco three weeks after that date, and regularly thereafter at four-weekly intervals. The time-table, you will also notice, gives a regular fortnightly despatch to and from London and New Zealand by way of the Pacific. Be good enough to inform the Postmaster at San Francisco of these arrangements. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., W. Gray, Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, California. Secretary.

No. 52. The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Sydney, 23rd December, 1897. lie Vancouver and San Francisco time-tables: Postmaster-General has agreed to the proposed changes being given a trial.

No. 53. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Washington. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 24th December, 1897. San Francisco service contract extended and Vancouver service subsidised to March, 1899. San Francisco mails leave London San Francisco a week earlier than at present, commencing London February twelve and San Francisco February twenty-four. Vancouver mails forwarded via New York. Obliged if you give prompt despatch both ways. Transfer to and from Canadian railway at Portal.

No. 54. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 24th December, 1897. San Francisco service extended and Vancouver subsidised to March, 1899. San Francisco mails leave London and San Francisco week earlier than now, commencing London, 12th February, and San Francisco, 24th. Vancouver mails forwarded via New York, transferred Canadian-United States railways at Portal. Urge Post Office give mails prompt despatch both ways.

No. 55. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 24th December, 1897. Be time-table : Have cabled Spreckels as follows: " ' Mariposa' leaves Frisco 24 February, and each four weeks thereafter."

No. 56. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 24th December, 1897. San Francisco, Vancouver time-table now approved. Change San Francisco service commences with despatch from London on February twelve, San Francisco twenty-fourth. Vancouver mail leaves London twenty-ninth December, then January twenty-nine. Leaves Sydney January first and twenty-ninth.

No. 57. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 24th December, 1897. San Francisco service renewal: Postmaster-General has considered your telegram of 22nd [No. 44], and regrets that he must adhere to the nineteen days, in accordance with resolutions, the House having prorogued. He thinks you should have brought forward your desire for extension to nineteen days and a half before resolutions discussed in House.

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No. 58. The Managing Directoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Sbcbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 24th December, 1897. Be renewal service: We were not referred to re increased speed, nor were we aware that a concession of half-day had been made to Vancouver service until after resolutions had been passed by House. Hope Postmaster-General will reconsider his demand that we should increase speed as well as submit to reduced payment. Otherwise must leave matter till able ascertain Spreckels' views.

No. 59. The Hon. the Pbemieb to the Agent-Genebal. (Telegram.) Premier's Office, Wellington, 24th December, 1897. San Fbancisco, Vancouver services : First Vancouver mail leaves London December twenty-nine; then Saturday, January twenty-nine, and every succeeding four weeks. Bequest Post Office advertise and forward mails via New York. San Francisco despatch from London week earlier, commencing February twelve. Vancouver mail leaves here January eighth, due London February eleventh, and every succeeding four weeks. No change San Francisco dates this end. Bequest London, after San Francisco despatch of January twenty-two, forward all mail-matter San Francisco Vancouver, except specially addressed other routes.

No. 60. The Seoeetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dieectoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 27th December, 1897. I am directed to say that the concession made Vancouver service was the outcome of representations by company's representative few days before resolutions came up for discussion. PostmasterGeneral much regrets now unable reconsider refusal to extend Frisco time by half-day, and trusts that you will agree to the nineteen days, as determined upon by the House of Bepresentatives.

No. 61. The Supeeintendent of Foeeign Mails, Washington, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Post Office Department, Office of Foreign Mails, Washington, D.C., Sib,— 30th December, 1897. Beferring to your cable message of the 24th instant, ... I have the honour, by direction of the Postmaster-General, to inform you that due notice of the same has been taken, and that the necessary instructions in relation thereto have been issued by this department. I am, &c, N. M. Beooks, Superintendent of Foreign Mails. The Postmaster-General, &c, Wellington, New Zealand.

No. 62. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Pbemiee. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— 31st December, 1897. I beg to transmit copy of letter addressed to the Imperial Post Office, in accordance with the instructions contained in your cablegram, copy of which I herewith enclose [see No. 59]. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure 1 in No. 62. The Agent-Genebal to the Secbetaey, General Post Office, London. Sib,— 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 27th December, 1897. I am directed by the Agent-General to inform you that he has received instructions from his Government to state, for tbe information of the Postmaster-General, that the following arrangements have been made with respect to the conveyance by the San Francisco and Vancouver routes, of the mails between New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It has been arranged that the first mail via Vancouver shall leave London on the 29th December, and that the following mail by that route shall leave London on Saturday, the 29th January, and thereafter the mails be despatched every succeeding four weeks ; and the Agent-General has to request, on behalf of his Government, that the Imperial Post Office arrange that these mails shall be forwarded via New York. He has also to request the favour of your giving public notice of this arrangement at as early a date as possible.

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With regard to the mails to be forwarded vid San Francisco, the Agent-General has been instructed to inform you that the arrangements made for their transmission involve their despatch from London a week earlier than the corresponding date of this year, such earlier despatch to commence on Saturday, the 12th February next, and to be continued thereafter every four weeks. He has therefore to convey to you the request of his Government that the Imperial Post Office will arrange accordingly. I am further directed to inform you that the mails via Vancouver will leave Wellington on the Bth January next, and will be due in London on the 11th February, and that the despatch from New Zealand of the mails by that route, and the arrivals due in London, will be continued thereafter every succeeding four weeks. I am further to inform you that there will be no change as regards the times for the despatch from New Zealand of the mails forwarded to the United Kingdom vid San Francisco. I am further directed by the Agent-General to state that he has been instructed by his Government to request the Imperial Post Office to forward all mail-matter addressed to New Zealand, after the dispatch of the mails from London vid San Francisco on the 22nd January next, by either the Vancouver or the San Francisco route, with the exception of those letters, &c, which may be specially superscribed to go by other routes. The table which I herewith enclose gives the dates at which the mails for New Zealand should leave London in accordance with the arrangements specified in this letter, also the dates at which the mails will leave New Zealand. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand. Walteb Kennaway.

Enclosure 2 in No. 62. New Zealand Mails.—Time-Table. Mails via San Francisco. —'Leave New Zealand : 22nd January, 1898; 19th February, 1898; and thereafter every four weeks. Leave London : 22nd January, 1898 ; 12th February, 1898; and thereafter every four weeks. Mails via Vancouver. —Leave New Zealand: Bth January, 1898; sth February, 1898; and thereafter every four weeks. Leave London: 29th December, 1897; 29th January, 1898; 26th February, 1898 ; and thereafter every four weeks.

No. 63. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dibectob, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 31st December, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant, in connection with the San Francisco mail-service, agreeing on behalf of your company to the extension of the present contract to the 31st March, 1899, on the terms specified in the resolutions of the House of Representatives, provided the mail-steamers were allowed nineteen days and a half for the voyage between Auckland and San Francisco. Your letter was duly submitted to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, who regrets that he is unable to afford you any relief in respect of the payments for the carriage of the London mails from San Francisco to Auckland. Nor can he agree to reduce the time fixed upon by the House of Eepresentatives for the voyage between San Francisco and Auckland. I am also to confirm my telegram of the 27th idem, in reply to yours of the 24th. I have, &c, The Managing Director, W. Gray, Secretary. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 64. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — San Francisco, 3rd January, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of cables of the 11th [not printed] and 24th December, as follows : [See No. 54.] In reference thereto, I have the honour to state that due information was at once given to the authorities at Washington, and also to the local office, of the extension to March, 1898 ; and upon receipt of the latter cable I at once communicated with the Postal department in this city and a,t Washington, also urging at the latter place that instructions should be given at all points of transfer to facilitate the through transmission of the mails to connecting vessels. I have also written to the Postmasters of New York and Portal, asking their co-operation, and also requesting that I may be informed by wire of the arrivals and departures of the mails at each point, so that I may be able to arrange connections, should the necessity arise through any unforseen delay, at any point of the route. Should you be of the opinion that the small expense necessitated by these notices is unnecessary, they can be stopped upon receipt of instructions to that effect, although I do not advise such a course being pursued. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Resident Agent. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington.

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No. 65. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, sth January, 1898. Spreckels cables as follows : " ' Campania 'is expected to carry mails. Shall we despatch every fourth Wednesday, commencing 23rd February?"

No. 66. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, sth January, 1898. Would be glad if San Francisco sailing-day could be made Wednesday, and if " Campania" is to convey mails during the year change should be made as suggested. But our Agent-General cabled on the 21st ultimo as follows : " According to Cunard's quarterly list sailings, swiftest steamers leave Liverpool once every two weeks from 15th January to 12th March, then slower vessels " : Do you think that in the face of this we may assume that " Campania " will be the mailvessel throughout the year ?

No. 67. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, sth January, 1898. Think from fact Spreckels cabling they must have ascertained "Campania "continues. Have cabled them as follows : " Advertise Wednesday if ' Campania' continues beyond March."

No. 68. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 7th January, 1898. I have the honour to confirm my telegram of the 22nd ultimo [see- No. 42], asking the concurrence of your department to an alteration in the running of the San Francisco and Vancouver mail-services, and have to thank you for your telegram of the 23rd in reply [see No. 52], conveying the agreement of the Postmaster-General to the change. Copies of the telegrams are attached. I enclose herewith three copies of the pro forma time-table prepared by this office of the new services. The changes as indicated in my telegram of the 22nd ultimo have not been carried out as originally intended. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. W. Gray, Secretary.

No. 69. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. Sib, — Premier's Office, Wellington, Bth January, 1898. With reference to previous correspondence, I have the honour to enclose for your information draft copy of the proposed Vancouver mail-service contract, as received from the printer. The representative of the contractors has notified the Postmaster-General that his company will take up the service in terms of the resolutions of the House of Eepresentatives; but the San Francisco contractors have not yet agreed to the terms of the renewal of their service, as they are indisposed to reduce the time from twenty to nineteen days, although willing to accept nineteen days and a half. A satisfactory settlement will, no doubt, be arrived at in the course of a few days. The first mail from the colony for Great Britain under the Vancouver contract service leaves here to-day by the " Warrimoo," and should arrive in London on the 11th proximo. Succeeding mails will be despatched on Thursday in the place of Saturday. Mail-agents will travel by the steamers, and the mails will be dealt with in the same manner as on the San Francisco vessels. I enclose four of the amended pro forma time-tables. The only alterations refer to the Vancouver which left London on the 29th ultimo, and to the outgoing mail leaving to-day. Should there be mail further changes you will be promptly advised by cable. It is possible that the sailing-day from San Francisco may be made Wednesday in the place of Thursday, as Messrs. Spreckels seem to think that the Atlantic running will admit of the steamers leaving San Francisco a day earlier than at present. I hope that you will succeed in prevailing on the London Post Office to pay over, for the benefit of the contractors, the equivalent of the Postal Union rates for. the conveyance of its mails from Vancouver to Wellington. The contractors have a strong claim to receive such payment. I have, &c, W. C. Walkee, For the Premier. The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London. .

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No. 70. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir,' — General Post Office, "Wellington, Bth January, 1898. I have the honour to advise you that the San Francisco mail-service has been renewed until the 31st March, 1899; and that an agreement has been entered into with the Canadian Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company (Limited) for a four-weekly service between Wellington and Vancouver from the Ist ultimo to the 31st March, 1899, thereby securing a fortnightly mailservice between the colony and the United Kingdom alternately by way of San Francisco and Vancouver. The time between Auckland and San Francisco has been shortened a day. Twenty-one days and a half are allowed for the voyage between Wellington and Vancouver, and the through time from London to Wellington will be under thirty-five days, and a day less from Wellington to London. The first mail for Great Britain from New Zealand under contract by the Vancouver service leaves here to-day by the " Warrimoo," and is due in London on the 11th proximo. Mail-agents will accompany each steamer, and correspondence for the United Kingdom will be dealt with in the same manner as is done on the San Francisco vessels. As you have been advised by the Agent-General, the New Zealand mails to and from Great Britain are to be forwarded vid New York. The American overland route east of Moose Jaw will be by way of Portal and Chicago, which is said to be the shortest between Vancouver and New York. I forward copy of the amended pro formd time-table. The only alterations are those which refer to the mail which left London on the 29th ultimo, and the homeward mail leaving here to-day, instead of on the 6th instant, as shown in the time-table forwarded with my letter of the 23rd December, by the last San Francisco mail. The Agent-General will also have conveyed to you the desire of this department that, after the despatch of the mail vid San Francisco from London on the 22nd instant, correspondence for this colony, except such as may be specially marked for transmission by the Federal or other service, should be forwarded vid Vancouver and vid San Francisco. I have &c, W. Gray, The Secretary, General Post Office, London. For the Postmaster-General.

No. 71. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Premier's Office, Wellington, 10th January, 1898. Spreckel's cables " Campania " expected carry mails. Proposes leave San Francisco Wednesday, commencing February twenty-three. Do you confirm " Campania"?

No. 72. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. (Telegram.) Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 10th January, 1898. According to Cunard's list "Campania" leaves Liverpool February 12th, thereafter every four weeks until July 2nd, inclusive.

No. 73. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 12th January, 1898. Agent-General cables that " Campania" leaves Liverpool 12th, and every four weeks thereafter until 2nd July. Now think that Wednesday should be made San Francisco sailing-day throughout the year. Do you agree ? ___________________

No. 74. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 12th January, 1898. Agree with you. . . . _^—.

No. 75. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 12th January, 1898. Commencing February twenty-three, steamers leave Wednesday. Advise Post Office.

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No. 76. The Supebintendent of Fobeign Mails, Washington, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington. Post Office Department, Office of Foreign Mails, Washington, D.0., Sib,— 20th January, 1898. I have the honour, by direction of the Postmaster-General, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd ultimo, enclosing two copies of the pro forma time-table of ocean mailservices vid San Francisco and Vancouver for the current year, and advising this department that an alternate service once every two weeks, to and from San Francisco and Vancouver, has been arranged for up to the 31st March, 1899. In reply, I have to inform you that due notice of the same has been taken and, with reference to your remarks relative to the amount now being paid by this "department to the Oceanic Steamship Company, I am to state that said amount is not paid under any contract with this department, but is a special appropriation made by Congress in the interest of the service, which requires to be made each year, and if not made for any one year no payment on that account can be made for such year. It it proper to add, however, that there is no probability that the special appropriation will be discontinued. In this connection reference is had to this department's reply, under date of the 30th ultimo, to your cablegram of the 24th ultimo on the same subject. I am, &c, The Postmaster-General, N. M, Bbooks, Wellington, New Zealand. Superintendent of Foreign Mails.

No, 77. The Seceetaet:, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dikectok, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 26th January, 1898. I have been directed by the Hon. the Postmaster-General to forward for your consideration and approval two copies of the draft agreement [see No. 83] for the renewal of the San Francisco mail-service up to the 31st March, 1899, and shall be obliged if you will inform me, as early as may be convenient, whether the draft meets with your approval. The Eight Hon. Mr. Seddon assumes that your company is agreeable to the service being performed within nineteen days, as provided by the fourth resolution of the House of Representatives. You will observe that clause 3 requires to be completed in accordance with resolution 9, as agreed to by the House, and I shall be glad if you will supply what is needed to make the clause effective. I have, &c, The Managing Director, W. Geay, Secretary. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 78. The Managing Dibectob, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sib,— ' . Dunedin, sth February, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your favour of the 26th January, enclosing for consideration and approval copy of the draft agreement for the renewal of the San Francisco mail-service up to the 31st March, 1899. As the resolution of the House provides for the service being performed in nineteen days, and the Eight Hon. Mr. Seddon is not prepared to entertain our protest, we will accept that condition, reserving the right to reopen the matter at the expiry of the twelve months. As already pointed out, however, we do not consider it reasonable that we should be asked to maintain a higher speed, while at the same time the remuneration has been reduced. With regard to the penalty clause, we submit that the penalty should be only exacted for any period beyond forty-eight hours. We shall supply you m due course with what is needed to complete clause 3. I presume it is intended that the same condition shall apply to the contract for the Vancouver service also, and it will probably be advisable that our rates should be assimilated. I do not quite understand the meaning of the proviso attached to clause 3, and in its present shape I do not see that we can agree to it, as we cannot make the same rate of freight applicable to all New Zealand ports, seeing that the cargo for southern ports has to be distributed from Auckland. I have, &c, James Mills, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Managing Director.

No. 79. The Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dibectob, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. General Post Office, Wellington, 11th February, 1898. Sib, — Renewal of the San Francisco Mail Contract. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the sth instant on this subject.

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The Postmaster-General is pleased to learn that your company sees its way to agree to a service of nineteen days, and notes your reservation in the direction of reopening the question at the expiration of the twelve months for which the contract is to be extended. As regards late arrivals, the Minister regrets that he is unable to vary the terms of the penalty clause of the contract made in August, 1895. I am to say, in reference to clause 3 of the draft contract, that the Eight Hon. Mr. Seddon desires that the passenger and freight rates between Auckland and San Francisco, and vice versd, shall not exceed the rates between Sydney and San Francisco, and vice versd, and he would be glad to learn what addition, if any, is proposed to be made for freight and passages to and from New Zealand ports other than Auckland, in order that he may be able to compare them with the rates proposed to be charged to and from Sydney* lam to add that a similar proviso will be made in the Vancouver contract. I have, &c, The Managing Director, W. Geay, Secretary. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 80. The Hon. the Pbemiee to the Agent-Geneeal. Premier's Office, Wellington, 11th February, 1898. Sib, — Pacific Mail-services. 1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th December last, on the subject of the time-tables of the Pacific mail-services and a proposed understanding with the Imperial Post Office that all correspondence for New Zealand should", unless specially superscribed for despatch by some other route, be sent vid San Francisco and Vancouver. In connection with framing the time-table, I may state that the main factor to be considered was the necessity of allowing the Vancouver steamers a maximum time in Sydney for overhaul. This, together with the importance of securing the advantages of the transmission of the London mails by the swiftest of the Atlantis steamers, will to a great extent explain why a longer interval in London between the arrival and departure of the mails could not be arranged. It is,* however, considered that, if the two services are performed with regularity, the time-table should prove a fairly satisfactory one. The successful results of your appeal to the London Post Office to forward all New Zealand mail-matter not superscribed for other routes by the Pacific services are referred to in another letter by this mail [not printed]. I have, &c, W. C. Walkeb, For the Premier. The Hon. W. P. Eeeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 81. The Hon. the Pbemiee to the Agent-Genebal. Sib,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 11th February, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 31st December, forwarding copy of one to the Secretary, General Post Office, London, in connection with the San Francisco and Vancouver mail-services. I have, &c, W. C. Walkee, For the Premier. The Hon. W. P. Eeeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 82. Wabeant. His Excellency the Govebnoe to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal. To the Eight Hon. Eichard John Seddon, Postmaster-General. In pursuance of the provisions of section eight of " The Post Office Act, 1881," I, Uchter John Mark, Earl of Eanfurly, Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, do hereby direct you, Eiehard John Seddon, Postmaster-General of the said colony, to enter into a contract on behalf of the Government of the said colony with the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited) for the carriage of mails each way between Auckland and San Francisco • for the period from the thirty-first day of March, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, to the thirty-first day of March inclusive, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, the' contract to be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the resolutions attached hereto, passed in the House of Eepresentatives on the thirteenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven. Given under my hand, at Timarn, in the said colony, this eleventh day of February, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight. Eanfuely.

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No. 83. Draft Conteact foe Conveyance of Ocean Mails.—Agreement between the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited) and the Postmaster-General of New Zealand. Abticles of agreement made and entered into this day of , one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, between the Eight Honourable Bichard John Seddon, the Post-master-General of the Colony of New Zealand, appointed as such Postmaster-General under " The Post Office Act, 1881," and acting for and on behalf of the Government of the said colony, of the one part, and the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), carrying on business at Dunedin and elsewhere in the Colony of New Zealand (hereinafter termed "the Company "), of the other part. Wheeeas by articles of agreement made on or about the fourteenth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five, between the then Postmaster-General of the said colony, of the one part, and the Company, of the other part, for the considerations, in the manner, and on the terms and conditions therein set forth, the Company agreed to convey Her Majesty's mails and other mails as therein mentioned between the Ports of Sydney, Auckland, Apia, Honolulu, and any ports intermediate between Auckland and San Francisco as therein provided, during a period of three years to be computed from the fifteenth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and ninetyfour : And whereas the period for which the said agreement (hereinafter referred to as "the original contract ") was made has now expired, but by mutual arrangement between the parties hereto the Company is continuing to perform the said service up to and including the thirty-first day of March, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, upon the terms of the original contract, so far as the same are applicable, and a true copy of such contract is hereunto annexed : And whereas, on or about the thirteenth day of December last, the House of Representatives of the said colony passed the following resolutions, that is to say, — " Resolved, — " (1.) That this House authorises the Government to extend the San Francisco mailservice for twelve months from the 31st March, 1898. " (2.) That the basis of payment for the conveyance of mails from New Zealand to San Francisco shall be at the rate of 10s. sd. per pound for letters, Is. per pound for books, packets, &c, and 6d. per pound for newspapers, with a guaranteed minimum payment of £7,500. " (3.) That the port of call in the colony shall be Auckland. " (4.) That the time between San Francisco and Auckland shall not exceed nineteen days. " (5.) That no bonus shall be paid for early arrival, and penalties at the rate of £4 an hour to be enforced only when late delivery exceeds forty-eight hours. " (6.) That at least one New-Zealand-owned steamer shall be employed in the service. "(7.) That the steamers to be employed shall be of not less than 3,000 gross registered tonnage. " (8.) That all payments or contributions from Great Britain and other countries shall be receivable by the contractors. " (9.) That the passenger rates and rates for freight shall be mutually agreed upon, and be fixed and embodied in the contract. " (10.) That the provisions of the existing agreement, where not at variance with these conditions, shall apply to any new contract made under this authority. " (11.) That a clause be embodied in the contract providing that not less than the current rate of wages ruling in New South Wales for steamboat seamen shall be paid by the contractor." Now, therefore, these presents witness that for the purpose of giving effect to the said resolutions the Company doth, for itself, its successors and assigns (so far as the agreements and covenants hereinafter contained are to be observed and performed by the Company), hereby covenant with the Postmaster-General of the Colony of New Zealand and his successors in office, and the said Postmaster-General doth, for and on behalf of himself as such Postmaster-General, and his successors in office respectively, and the Government of the colony for which he is such PostmasterGeneral, hereby covenant with the Company and its successors in manner following, that is to say,— 1. The Company shall from time to time, and at all times hereafter, during a period of twelve calendar months, computed from the thirty-first day of March, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, unless previously terminated in pursuance of any provision of these presents, convey all Her Majesty's mails which, and all other mails of whatever country or place which, the Postmaster-General shall from time to time and at any time require the Company to convey from and to the following ports—that is to say, Sydney, Auckland, Apia, Honolulu, San Francisco, and any port or ports intermediate between Auckland and San Francisco at which the steam-vessels employed under this contract may call, or any of such ports, and within the respective times and in manner hereinafter provided for. 2. So long as the whole or any part of the services hereby agreed to be performed ought to be performed in pursuance of this contract, the Company shall and will .provide and keep seaworthy and in complete repair and readiness for such purpose a sufficient number of, and not less than three, good, substantial, and efficient screw steam-vessels of the first class, and fully equal to class 100 Al, Lloyd's Eegister, and of not less gross register tonnage than three thousand tons each, constructed of iron, and propelled by first-rate engines of adequate power for the performance of the voyages within the times hereinafter specified, and having spar decks and large capacity for passengers and cargo, and ample ventilation for passing through tropical climates. 3. At least one of the said steamers to be so employed in the performance of this contract shall be owned in the Colony of New Zealand, and all of such vessels so employed shall each, according

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to its capacity, carry all the freight and passengers which may be reasonably offered or obtained, and at tariff rates, both as to passengers and freight, not exceeding those hereinafter set forth, that is to say,— [This article to be completed.] Provided that no discrimination shall be made as regards tariff rates for either freights or passengers in any manner directly or indirectly against any New Zealand port, or against the New Zealand Government railways, or against any New Zealand merchant or shipper. 4. The wages to be paid to seamen by the Company in respect of the vessels employed under this contract shall not be less than the current rate of wages payable for the time being in New South Wales for steamship seamen engaged or employed for voyages beyond the Australian Colonies. 5. The mails shall be safely conveyed from San Francisco to Auckland within four hundred and fifty-six hours, and to Sydney in five hundred and seventy-six hours, and from Sydney and from Auckland to San Francisco respectively within a like period, such times to be calculated as provided in the original contract. 6. The liability of the Postmaster-General under this contract shall only extend to outward mails from New Zealand, and in respect of such mails the Postmaster-General will pay the Company at the following rates : Letters at ten shillings and five-pence per pound ; books, packets, and printed matter other than newspapers at one shilling per pound ; and newspapers at sixpence per pound; such rates being calculated on the net weight of the respective mail-matter hereinbefore mentioned actually carried. But all letters, books, packets, printed matter other than newspapers, and newspapers sent from New Zealand to Australia shall not be deemed part of an outward mail: Provided that, if the sums to be paid to the Company under this contract shall not exceed the sum of seven thousand five hundred pounds per annum, the Postmaster-General shall pay to the Company such a sum as will make up the difference between the amounts actually so paid and the said sum of seven thousand five hundred pounds. 7. During the continuance of this contract and so long as the same shall be faithfully carried out by the contractors no charge for harbour dues, dock dues, or other rates shall be made or levied under " The Harbours Act, 1878," or any amendment thereof, or under any special Act in that behalf at the Port of Auckland for any of the steam-vessels employed in carrying out this contract, and all such vessels shall be exempt therefrom accordingly. 8. All the provisions of the original contract shall (except where altered, extended, or modified by the terms of these presents) extend and apply to this contract, and be deemed to be incorporated herewith, and shall take effect from time to time as occasion arises in respect of the services to be performed hereunder, and otherwise in relation thereto or in connection therewith, as if the provisions of the original contract (except as aforesaid) had been fully set forth herein and were still in full force. In witness whereof the Postmaster-General hath hereunto set his hand and seal, and the Company hath hereunto caused its common seal to be affixed, the day and year first above written. Signed, sealed, and delivered by the Eight Honourable Eichard\ John Seddon as Postmaster-General of New Zealand, in the The common seal of the Union Steam Ship Company of New\ Zealand (Limited) was hereunto affixed in the presence of— I Directors of the j said Company.

No. 84. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Supebintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 16th March, 1898. I have the honour, by direction, to refer to your letter of the 20th January last, acknowledging the receipt of two copies of the pro formd time-table of the ocean-mail services to and from this colony via San Francisco and Vancouver, and stating that due notice had been taken of the same. I note that the Oceanic Steamship Company is not under contract to your department on account of the mail-service between San Francisco and New Zealand, but that the amount which it receives from your Government is a special appropriation made by the United States Congress in the interests of the service, and requires to be renewed each year. The Postmaster-General is pleased to learn that there is no probability, however, of this special grant being discontinued. I have, &c, The Superintendent of Foreign Mails, W. Gray, Secretary, Office of Foreign Mails, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C.

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UNITED STATES TERRITORIAL TEANSIT CHARGES. No. 85. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Peemibe. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,— 22nd April, 1897. Eeferring to your letter of the 16th February last [see No. 50, P.-6, 1897], I beg to transmit copy of letter received from the Imperial Post Office in reply to my letter (copy enclosed) asking that support be given to the delegate for Australasia at the Postal Union Congress at Washington in his endeavours to obtain a reduction in the territorial transit charges now levied by the CJnited States Post Office on the colonial mails. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure 1 in No. 85. The Agent-Genebal to the Seoeetaey, General Post Office, London. Sic,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 7th April, 1897. I have received information from my Government that the delegate for Australasia at the Washington Postal Union Congress will bring forward the question of the high territorial transit charges now levied by the United States Post Office on the colonial mails, and will endeavour to arrange for a substantial reduction in the rates which have been hitherto charged ; and, in reference thereto, I have been instructed to request that the representatives at the Congress of the Imperial Post Office will support, so far as possible, the Australasian delegate in endeavouring to obtain a favourable result. I take the opportunity of attaching a statement showing the Postal Union territorial rates compared with the American territorial rates, which clearly shows how very excessive the latter are. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, E.C. W. P. Reeves.

Sub-enclosure to Enclosure 1 in No. 85. Statement showing the Postal Union Territorial Rates compared with the American Territorial Rates, and the Difference between them.

Enclosure 2 in No. 85. The Secbetaby, General Post Office, London, to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— General Post Office, London, 21st April, 1897. . I have laid before the Postmaster-General your letter of the 7th instant, in which you request, on behalf of the Government of New Zealand, that the British delegates to the Postal Union Congress of Washington may be instructed to support, as far as possible, the efforts which are to be made by the Australasian delegate to procure a reduction in the rates charged by the United States Post Office for the conveyance of New Zealand mails across the American Continent. His Grace directs me to inform you in reply that the British delegates will be instructed to co-operate, as far as practicable, with their Australasian colleague in any negotiation which he may conduct with the United States Post Office on this subject; but lam to point out that the whole question of mail transit across the States, and not merely the transit of New Zealand mails, is involved, and that the land-service in question being one of the " extraordinary services " which are expressly excluded (under Article IV., paragraph 3, of the Convention of Vienna) from the scope of the convention, it may not be possible to bring the matter before the Congress. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. S. Walpole.

No. 86. The Hon. the Pbemieb to the Agent-Geneeal. Sic,— Premier's Office, Bth June, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd April last, transmitting copy of your communication to the Imperial Post Office, and of the reply thereto, asking that support be given to the delegate for Australasia at the Postal Union Congress at Washington in his endeavours to obtain a reduction in the territorial transit charges levied by the United States Post Office on colonial mails.

Glass of Correspondence. Union Territorial Transit Bates. j American Territorial Transit Bates. I Difference. letters •ther articles ... ... 8-64d. per pound ... l-08d. I ... 27*5d. per pound ... 8-5d. ... 18-86d. per pound. ... 7-42d.

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I note that the London office feared that it would not be possible to bring the matter before the Congress, seeing that the service is one of those specially excluded from the scope of the Postal Union Convention. I have', &c, W. 0. Walkbb, For the Premier. The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 87. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Pbbmieb. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,— 22nd November, 1897. Referring to your letter of the Bth June last, and to previous correspondence, I now beg to transmit copies of further correspondence that has passed on the subject of a reduction in the territorial transit charges levied by the United States Post Office on colonial mails. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Eebvbs.

Enclosure 1 in No. 87. The Secbetaby, General Post Office, London, to the Agent-General. Sib, — General Post Office, London, 17th November, 1897. With reference to your letter of the 7th April last, and to my reply of the 21st of that month, respecting a proposed attempt to procure a reduction in the rates charged by the United States Post Office for the conveyance of New Zealand mails across the American Continent, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to inform you that the British delegates to the recent Postal Congress held at Washington, though they took an opportunity of mentioning the matter to the Postmaster-General of the United States, were unable to compass any alteration of the existing rates. The question is now, however, about to be reopened here in the ordinary official way ; and, before again approaching the United States Post Office on the subject, the Postmaster-General will be glad to know whether any further communication has been made to you on the subject. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. H. Buxton Forman.

Enclosure 2 in No. 87. The Secretary to the Agent-Genebal to the Secbetart, General Post Office, London. Sir,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 19th November, 1897. I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, and, in reply, to inform you that he has received no further communication on the subject of the reduction in the rates charged by the United States Post Office for the conveyance of the New Zealand mails across the American Continent since his letter to you of the 7th of April last. I am, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, E.C. Walter Kennaway.

No. 88. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-Geneeal. (Telegram.) - Wellington, Bth January, 1898. Eeferring to letter 22nd November, again urge Imperial Post Office obtain reduction of rates.

No. 89. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,— 15th January, 1898. Eeferring to your cablegram of the Bth instant, I beg to transmit herewith copy of correspondence with the Imperial Post Office relating to the reduction of the rates charged by the United States Post Office for the conveyance of the mails across the American Continent. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington, New Zealand. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure 1 in No. 89. The Secretary to the Agent-Genebal to the Seoretaby, General Post Office, London. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W , Sib,— 10th January, 1898. Eeferring to your letter of the 17th November last, and previous communications, I am directed by the Aj/ent-General to state that he has received instructions from his Government to

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again direct your attention to the question of the high territorial transit charges levied by the United States Post Office on colonial mails, and to express their strong hope that the Imperial Post Office ■will do its utmost to obtain a substantial reduction in the rates which have hitherto been charged. I am, &c. ' The Secretary, General Post Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand. Waltbb Kbnnaway.

Enclosure 2 in No. 89. The Sbceetaey, General Post Office, London, to the Seceetaby to the Agent-General.. Sir,— General Post Office, London, 13th January, 1898. In reply to your letter of the 10th instant I beg leave to inform you that this department has just reopened the question of the high rates charged by the United States Post Office for the conveyance of British mails across the American Oontinent, and the result of the communication which has been addressed to the United States Post Office on the subject shall be communicated to you in due course. I am, &c, Walter Kennaway, Esq., C.M.G. H. Buxton Fobman.

No. 90. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 17th January, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd November last, forwarding copies of further correspondence that has passed between the London Post Office and yourself on the subject of a reduction in the territorial transit charges levied by the United States Post Office on colonial mails. I note that though the British delegates to the recent Postal Congress held at Washington took an opportunity of mentioning the matter to the PostmasterGeneral of the United States, they were unable to compass any alteration of the existing rates, but that the Imperial Post Office was about to reopen the question in the ordinary official way. I have now to confirm my cablegram to you of the Bth instant, and to express the hope that the Imperial postal authorities will do what is possible to obtain a material reduction of the territorial transit charges in question. I have, &c, W. C. Walker, For the Premier. The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 91. The Hon. the Premieb to the Agent-General. Sib,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 16th March, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th January last, transmitting therewith copy of correspondence which had passed between you and the Secretary, General Post Office, London, in connection with the desired reduction of the rates charged by the United States Post Office for the conveyance of colonial mails across the American Continent. I note that the question had just been reopened by the Imperial postal authorities, and that the result would be communicated to you in due course. I have, &c, E. J. Seddon. The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

DEPARTURE FROM AMERICAN POBTS. No. 92. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sib,. — San Francisco, 19th August, 1897. I have the honour to report that the final portion of the British-Colonial mail for the colonies arrived at this city on Wednesday morning, having reached New York on the Friday previous by the " Campania." The R.M.S "Alameda" was appointed to sail at 2 p.m. to-day. I was, however, in receipt of advices from the New York postal authorities to the effect that two letter-pouches and fourteen sacks of other mail-matter would not reach this port until Thursday morning. At the same time they requested that a connection should be made thereof with the " Alameda." Immediately upon receipt of this communication I waited upon Messrs. J. D. Spreckels and Brothers' Company regarding the situation, taking the position that the " Alameda " should proceed to sea at once, unless they were prepared to push her upon the voyage to Auckland, so that the colonies should receive the benefit of the early delivery of their mail at this port. Messrs. Spreckels and Company expressed a desire to facilitate as much as possible the arrival of the mails at Auckland, and promised to instruct the commander of the "Alameda" to use every endeavour (weather permitting) to make up the time on the Pacific voyage. In view of the fact that the United States Government is now so largely contributing to the subsidy, and of the other circumstances surround-

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ing the case, I deemed it inexpedient to make any further protest against the detention until the advertised date of Thursday. In view of the fact that the steamer " Campania " is scheduled to convey the outward colonial mails from Great Britain each month until at least the 27th November, and possibly next year, the same circumstances may arise frequently in the future. lam therefore desirous of receiving definite instructions regarding the despatch of the steamers from this port under similar circumstances, and especially as regards despatch of the vessel at any time when the entire United States mail may not have arrived. In regard to the date of departure from this port, you may possibly deem it advisable to instruct the contractors to be prepared to advertise Wednesday departures from San Francisco during the months of May, June, July, August, and September should the fast steamers be continued for the trans-Atlantic voyage. I would point out that in the present case, had the " Campania " reached New York three hours earlier, the mails would have reached this port on Tuesday evening. Trusting that I may be fully advised at an early date, I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Resident Agent.

No. 93. The Secketaey, General Post Office, London, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Genebal, Wellington. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 10th September, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th of May last [see No. 38, F.-6, 1897], in which, referring to a case of delay in the transmission across the United States of the preliminary portion of a mail from this country for New Zealand via San Francisco, you suggest that it might be possible to arrange here for an earlier despatch of the advance bags sent by that route. In reply, I have to inform you that this suggestion has been fully considered, but that there would be certain disadvantages in a change of practice, and it is thought advisable, on the whole, not to disturb the arrangements at present in force. I am, &c, The Postmaster-General, Wellington. H. Buxton Foeman.

No. 94. The Secketaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dikeotoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 14th September, 1897. I have the honour to inform you that the Resident Agent for this colony at San Francisco advises that the final portion of the British-Colonial mails arrived there on the Wednesday morning previous to the day of sailing of the " Alameda " on her last voyage to Auckland, and that, in view of the fact that the s.s. " Campania"—one of the fastest steamers—is scheduled to convey the outward colonial mails from Great Britain each month until at least the 27th November, and possibly next year, similar early arrivals of the mails at San Francisco may be expected. It is stated that had the " Campania," on the occasion in question, reached New York three hours earlier the mails would have been received at San Francisco on Tuesday evening. It is therefore desirable that the despatch of the mail-steamers from San Francisco earlier in the week than Thursday should be effected when the mails come to hand before that day; and I shall be obliged if you will cable your San Francisco representatives to advertise Wednesday as the sailing-day hereafter, and to arrange that the steamers be despatched as soon as possible after the last portion of the mails is placed on board. Will you be so good as to advise me by wire of the action you take in the matter. I have, &c, The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company W. Gray, Secretary. of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 95. The Managing Dibectoe, Union Steam Ship Company, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin, Sir,— 17th September, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your favour of 14th instant, asking that, in view of the " Campania " having been selected to convey the outward colonial mails from Great Britain across the Atlantic, it be arranged to advertise Wednesday as the sailing date of the mail steamers from San Francisco, instead of Thursday, as is done at present. On receipt of your letter I at once cabled Messrs. J. D. Spreckels and Brothers' Company as follows: "As ' Campania' bringing mails Postmaster-General asks steamers be advertised to leave San Francisco Wednesday in future " —and by the Vancouver mail same day sent them a copy of your letter. I also wired you at the same time that I had done so. I have, &c, T. W. Whitson, For Managing Director. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

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No. 96. The Secretary, General Pose Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 17th September, 1898. Spreckels requested advertise and despatch steamers Wednesday. Advise Post Office.

No. 97. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sm, — General Post Office, Wellington, 18th September, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo, advising the early arrival of the British-Colonial mails at San Francisco for despatch by the " Alameda," and suggesting that the sailing-day of the steamers from your port should be altered to Wednesday, seeing that the s.s. "Campania" is scheduled to convey our mails to New York until at least the 27th November next, and possibly next year. In reply, I have to inform you that the Union Steam Ship Company has been approached with the view of having the sailing-day altered as suggested. The result you would learn from my telegram to you yesterday. Regarding the non-arrival of the last portion of the United States mails when the steamer is ready to sail, you will be good enough to detain the steamer in any case in which the entire mail has not connected. As you are aware, the United States Government now subsidises the service largely, and it is therefore entitled to some consideration in this respect. At the same time I shall be glad if, when advising Washington of the change, you will impress upon the Postmaster-General the advisability of the eastern mail leaving not later than the last of the English mails, so that there will be no delay in despatching the steamer from San Francisco. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, W. Geay. San Francisco, California.

No. 98. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) San Francisco, 18th September, 1897. " Campania '" only thrice more. Can date remain till next season? Spreckels expects make up downwards.

No. 99. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 21st September, 1897. Yes, Thursday.

No. 100. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dieectob, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) Wellington, 21st September, 1897. Oue San Francisco agent cables that " Campania " will convey only three more mails, and, under the circumstances, suggests that Thursday continue to be the sailing-day, Spreckels agreeing to make up time on downward voyage. I have agreed, and cabled accordingly.

No. 101. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd September, 1897. 1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your cablegram of the 18th instant, suggesting that, as the s.s. " Campania " would this season make only three more voyages with the colonial mails from London, the sailing-day of the steamers from San Francisco be not disturbed, and stating that it was expected that a day could be gained on the downward voyage to Auckland* My reply yesterday will have informed you that the department agrees to the existing arrangement. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, W. Geay, Secretary. San Francisco, California.

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No. 102. The Besident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretaky, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — San Francisco, 12th October, 1897. I have the honour to report and confirm the receipt of the following cable, viz.: [see No. 96]. Upon receipt of this cable I at once called upon Messrs. Spreckels and Brothers in reference thereto. These gentlemen represented that, on account of the wide publicity given their advertisements as to date of sailing both in the United States and in Europe, it would be extremely difficult to arrange for the change at such a short notice, and, further, that they were informed that the fast steamers of the Cunard Company were only scheduled to make three more trips this year before being withdrawn for their winter lay-up. Under these circumstances, and in consideration of their agreeing to use their best endeavours to make up the time lost by the detention at this port if they were permitted to retain the usual day of departure, I cabled as follows : [see No. 98], in response to which I received the cablegram reading [see No. 99]. Upon receipt of these instructions I addressed a communication to the contractors, copy of which is enclosed, informing them that they would be permitted to retain the sailing-day of Thursday on condition that every endeavour was used to recover the time lost by the detention, by accelerating the voyage to the colonies after departure from this port. As it is not probable that the fast steamers of the Cunard Company will resume their running before April of next year, I would suggest that early instructions be given the contractors to so arrange their advertisements that they will be in a position to leave on Wednesdays, if necessary, on the first of that month. Trusting that my action in regard to this matter will meet with your approval, I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Eesident Agent.

Enclosure in No. 102. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company, San Francisco. Eesident Agency of the Government of New Zealand, 428, California Street, Gentlemen, — San Francisco, 22nd September, 1897. I have the honour to report, as the result of cable communication with my Government, that the steamships now under contract with the New Zealand Government for the conveyance of the colonial mails will be permitted to retain the present sailing-day of Thursday from this port until further notice, conditionally upon every exertion being used by the contractors to make good the detention at this port upon the downward voyage, upon occasions when the through British mails arrive at this port prior to Thursday. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Eesident Agent, New Zealand Government. Messrs. J. D. Spreckels and Brothers, 327, Market Street,, San Francisco, Agents, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited).

No. 103. The Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — San Francisco, 13th October, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 18th September, to hand this day via Vancouver, having reference to the proposed change of the sailingdate of the contract steamers from this port, and also instructing me in regard to the detention of steamers in cases where the United States mails do not arrive at this port as early as the through colonial mails. In regard to the alteration of the sailing-date for the present season, the cable instructions lately received dispose of this matter for the present. I will not therefore make any communication to Washington until arrangements are completed for next season. Your instructions in regard to the detention of steamers in order to connect with delayed United States mails will receive due observance. I have, &c., H. Stephenson Smith, Eesident Agent. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington.

No. 104. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand San Francisco. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 12th November, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your'letter of the 12th ultimo, confirming the cablegrams and detailing the action taken by you in connection with the proposed change of

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the sailing-day of the steamers from San Francisco, and suggesting that early arrangements be made for altering the sailing-day to Wednesday when the fast Atlantic steamers resume running. In reply, I have to inform you that the need for changing the dates of departure from San Francisco will receive early consideration should this be necessary. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., W. Gray, Secretary. Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, California.

No. 105. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — San Francisco, Bth December, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 16th October last [not printed].... In reference to the question of the connection at New York of the colonial homeward mails with the fast steamers of the trans-Atlantic service, I would state that the fast steamers of the International Navigation and White Star lines are appointed to leave New York on Wednesday mornings, and those of the Cunard Steamship Company on Saturday mornings. This has been the custom for years, and I do not think there is any disposition at present to alter existing arrangements. There is also a fast steamer of the North German Lloyds appointed to leave New York on Tuesday morning, but, as this vessel only lea.yes every four weeks, it is too uncertain to take into consideration. If it were possible to so arrange the arrival of the New Zealand steamer as to make this port in time to connect with the 6 p.m. train from this port on Monday evening, the mails would go through and connect with the fast Cunarder on the Saturday following, and no delay would occur. Under the present time-table the mails are invariably detained twenty-four hours in New York. Should, however, the steamer fail to connect with the Monday evening train from here, there would be no opportunity to leave New York for two, and perhaps three, days. It would be advisable, before any arrangements were made looking to a Monday arrival at this port, to definitely ascertain from the Cunard Company whether the steamer " Campania" or the " Lucania " will be available to convey the outward mails from Liverpool to New York ; otherwise the full benefit of a Saturday departure from New York would not be realised. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Resident Agent.

No. 106. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office. Wellington. Sir, — San Francisco, 3rd February, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 23rd December last [see No. 51], enclosing pro forma time-table of the mail-services between San Francisco and between Vancouver and the colonies ; also the printed resolution passed by the New Zealand Parliament in connection therewith, all of which have my attention. I have also to acknowledge receipt of your cablegram of the 12th January, reading: [See No. 75]. Upon receipt of these advices I at once communicated with the postal authorities both at Washington and at San Francisco, giving details of the proposed changes rendered necessary by the new arrangements. I note from the time-table just received from the Cunard Steamship Company that the "Lucania" and "Campania" are listed to leave London on the dates appointed for the despatch of the mails both via Vancouver and via San Francisco. There will therefore be an even chance of the due dates of departure from Pacific ports being maintained, notwithstanding that there are yet remaining two months of winter. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Resident Agent. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington.

No. 107. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — San Francisco, Ist March, 1898. In connection with the late change in the day of departure of mail-steamers from this port, I have the honour to enclose for your information copies of correspondence lately passing between this office and the Superintendent of Foreign Mails at Washington. In reference to this matter, I would state that, owing to the inclement weather generally prevailing on the Atlantic during the months of March and April, it is not probable that any earlier departure than Thursday will be made during that period. I am, however, unable to follow out Mr. Brooke's statements, as the mails arriving here on the 9th March will reach New York, if no delay occurs, on the 14th ; and if the return mail leaves that city on the 19th, five days later, they will connect with the steamer leaving this port on the 23rd, The time between New York and

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Boston does not as a rale exceed six hours, and the trains run at frequent intervals. The delay occasioned by registration should not, I would submit, cause more than, at most, twenty-four hours' delay. " I have, &c, H. Stbphbnson Smith, W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Eesident Agent.

Enclosure 1 in No. 107. The Superintendent of Fobeign Mails, Washington, to the Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Post Office Department, Office of Foreign Mails, Washington, D.C., Sir,— 23rd February, 1898. <•.;« ■ Eeferring to my reply, under date the 19th ultimo, to your letter of the 13th ultimo, advising this department that for the future the New Zealand contract mail-steamers would leave San Francisco on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays, as announced in the pro forma lime-tables of the service, I have to inform you that attention has been called to the circumstance that if the steamers sail on Wednesday their stay at San Francisco will be limited to fourteen days. That period will allow correspondents at Boston and other places east of New York to send by the same steamer replies to letters received by that steamer only in case the reply is mailed twenty-four hours after the letter is received by them, and provided the letter and reply are sent in the ordinary unregistered mail. If the correspondence is transmitted under registration it is hardly possible that a reply could reach San Francisco in time for despatch upon the return voyage of the steamer. The delay involved in the new arrangement will be a serious inconvenience to persons in our eastern cities having important business relations in the Australian Colonies involving valuable correspondence which prudence requires to be sent under registration ; and I have to request, therefore, that you will bring the matter to the attention of your Government, with a view to maintain, if possible, the original schedule, under which the day of sailing from San Francisco was fixed for Thursday. I am, &c, N. M. Beooks, H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Superintendent of Foreign Mails. Eesident Agent of the New Zealand Government, San Francisco, California.

Enclosure 2 in No. 107. The Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Superintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington. Eesideut Agency of the New Zealand Government, San Francisco, Sir,— Ist March, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 23rd ultimo, advising me that the change in the day of the departure of the contract steamer conveying the Australian mails from this port will operate adversely to the interests of eastern merchants, inasmuch as insufficient time will be given them to reply to communications by the same mail as they are received by. In reply, I have the honour to inform you that, while I have not the power to make any change in the arrangements lately perfected, yet I will represent the matter to my Government, and hope that some rearrangement of the schedule may be possible whereby a longer time can be given for reply to eastern correspondents. I would, however, point out that for the next two months at least it is improbable that the Wednesday departure will be effected on account of the inclement weather prevailing on the Atlantic at this season. I have, &c, N. M. Brooks, Esq., H. Stephenson Smith, Superintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington, D.C. Eesident Agent.

No. 108. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 6th April, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Ist ultimo, enclosing copy of correspondence with the Superintendent of Foreign Mails at Washington on the subject of change of sailing-day of the mail-steamers from San Francisco for Auckland. Under the present schedule the time given for replies from New York would be four days, which is considered sufficient. The time, however, for Boston would only be about two days. The Superintendent of Foreign Mails has communicated direct with this office on the question [see No. 181], and a reply will be sent in a similar manner. N.o change is likely to be made during the currency of the existing contract, but it is intended to give the matter consideration when the new time-table is being framed. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Besident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, California.

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AMERICAN-SPANISH WAR : EFFECT ON SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE. No. 109. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 22nd April, 1898. San Francisco and Vancouver Services : What probability Atlantic mail-steamers being interfered with in event of war? Will homeward mails be delayed, now that American and other fast steamers acquired by United States ?

No. 110. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. (Telegram.) London, 22nd April, 1898. At present homeward mails catching German Lloyd's steamers; outward Cunard's. Delay not very probable. With regard to interference, highly improbable Spain can arrange effectual blockade. Keeping in touch with Imperial Post Office. Will keep you well informed.

No. 111. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. (Telegram.) London, 25th April, 1898. Replying to my communication [not printed], New York postal authorities promise will give immediate despatch to New Zealand mails, so as to forward, if possible, by German Lloyd's, Cunard's, White Star. With regard to general present position, it is this: Both Spain and America agree to adhere substantially for the present to principles declaration Paris. Spain will not commission privateers, though reserving right to do so later on, if desired. Spain, however, expected engage number fast auxiliary cruisers pursue American shipping vigorously, but promises respect neutral goods other than contraband of war, although carried in American vessels. Are you making any arrangement with regard to Oceanic Company's steamers ?

No. 112. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) . Wellington, 3rd May, 1898. Replying to your cablegram, 25th April, Spreckels cables no reason to fear safety his steamers.

INTERPROVINCIAL SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH SAN FRANCISCO AND VANCOUVER SERVICES. No. 113. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 26th January, 1898. I have now the honour, by direction of the Postmaster-General, to approach you with reference to the renewal of the interprovineial service for the conveyance of the San Francisco mails between the Manukau, New Plymouth, Wellington, and Lytfcelton ; and for establishing a four-weekly service for the delivery and distribution of the Vancouver mails between Wellington, New Plymouth, and Manukau, and Wellington and Lyttelton. The day of departure of the San Francisco mails from Auckland will be Saturday, as at present; but the inward steamers will be due at Auckland on Wednesday, 23rd proximo; then on Tuesday, the 15th March, and every succeeding fourth Tuesday, in the place of Thursday, as now. The incoming mails via Vancouver are due at Wellington on Wednesday, 2nd proximo ; then on Saturday, sth March next, and every fourth Saturday thereafter. The outward mails are timed to leave Wellington every fourth Thursday, commencing on Thursday, 3rd proximo. The " Aorangi," however; which should leave here on Thursday week, will not be able to do so until the following Thursday, 10th proximo, owing to unavoidable delay in Sydney. Will you therefore let me know, as early as possible, the terms on which your company is prepared to renew the San Francisco interprovineial service, and will provide a coastal service for the delivery and distribution of the Vancouver mails between the ports already mentioned. I enclose three copies of the corrected time-table for the San Francisco and Vancouver services. You will observe that the time from Auckland to Sydney has been increased from four to five days, as was the case under the previous contract. The time from Wellington to Sydney by the Vancouver steamers has been similarly altered. 1 have, &c, The Managing Director, W. Gray, Secretary. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

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VANCOUVEE MAIL-SERVICE. ARRANGING SERVICE. No. 114. The Hon. the Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce, Ottawa, to the Hon. the Pbemibk. Sib,— Ottawa, 18th May, 1897. Referring to conversation yesterday in re the Huddart contract for steamship services between Vancouver and Sydney : as requested, I now hand you enclosed a copy of the Order in Council and schedule thereto attached [not printed] of maximum freight rates allowed to be charged for freight on the said steamers. I have, &c, The Hon. R. J. Seddon, W. S. Babmen, Premier of New Zealand, Hotel Waldorf, New York. Deputy Minister.

Enclosure in No. 114. Report of a Committee op the Honourable the Pkivy Council, appeoved bt His Excellency the Governor-General in Council, on the Bth September, 1893. The Minister of Trade and Commerce submits the following:— Referring to the agreement entered into between the Minister of Trade and Commerce on behalf of Her Majesty and James Huddart, for steamship service between Vancouver, 8.C., and Sydney, New South Wales, clause 5 whereof stipulates that "The said steamships shall each, according to its capacity, carry both outward and homeward all the freight and passengers which may be reasonably offered or obtained, and at tariff rates both as to passengers and freights, which shall be approved by the Governor-General of Canada in Council," and in compliance with this requirement, Mr. Huddart has submitted the attached freight tariff. The Minister recommends the adoption of the same as being the maximum rates to be charged for freight by the steamers running between the ports named under terms of said agreement. The Committee submit the same for Your Excellency's approval. Joseph Pope, Assistant-Clerk of the Privy Council. Schedule. Freight Tariff of the Canadian-Australian Steamship Line in Connection with the CanadianPacific Railway Company. No. I.—ln effect, Ist May, 1893, between Vancouver, Honolulu, Brisbane, and Sydney, without transhipment. Close connection at Vancouver with all Pacific Coast steamship lines for Paget Sound ports, Portland, and San Francisco, and at Sydney with railroad and steamers for Melbourne and all Australian ports. Bubns, Philp, and Co., (Limited), Managing Agents, Sydney. W. Brown, Vancouver, Agent for Pacific Coast. [Rest of schedule not printed: refers to tariffs between Vancouver and Australian ports.]

No. 115. The Secretaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Representative of the CanadianAustralian Royal Mail Steamship Company, Wellington. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 16th December, 1897. Herewith I have the honour to forward three copies of resolutions passed by the House of Representatives on the 13th instant on the subject of the Vancouver mail-service [see No. 32]. You will observe that the Government is empowered to establish a four-weekly mail-service between New Zealand and Vancouver, by way of Fiji and Honolulu, as from the Ist December, 1897, to the 31st March, 1899, and I shall be glad if you will inform me as early as possible whether your company is prepared to accept a contract on the terms and conditions specified in the resolutions. With regard to the provision of suitable accommodation for the purpose of sorting mails on board the, contract vessels and first-class accommodation for a mail agent and assistant, perhaps you will be so good as to forward to me plans of the steamers, with an indication of the proposed position of the sorting-rooms, in order that we may confer about the matter. I have, &c, Robt. Grayson, Esq., W. Gray, Secretary. Representative of Messrs. James Huddart and Company, Wellington.

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No. 116. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Representative of the CanadianAustraman Royal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 21st December, 1897. Have you heard whether company accepts? Will " Warrimoo " leave Sydney Saturday instead of Monday, and " Miowera " Vancouver thirteenth instead of tenth January? Cable size " Warri- 7moo's " cabins for sorting-room, and whether mail-room will hold four fifty to five hundred bags. As you will be unable to provide suitable fittings for " Warrimoo," suggest we do so and charge cost to company. [Reply hereto of 22nd December not printed.]

No. 117. The Representative of the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 23rd December, 1897. Accept contract basis resolutions passed by House Representatives, commencing "Miowera" December trip. Referring yesterday's cablegram [see No. 155], assume you mean "Warrimoo" tenth February, not " Miowera," and will so arrange. Presume Canadian Government acquiesce. Reply. ___________^_^__

No. 118. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. Premier's Office, Wellington, 23rd December, 1897. [Read.No. 48, San Francisco Service. See also No. 70.]

No. 119. His Excellency the Governor to the Right Hon. Richard John Seddon, Postmaster-General. Warrant. To the Right Honourable Richard John Seddon, Postmaster-General. In pursuance of the provisions of section eight of " The Post Office Act, 1881," I, Uchter John Mark, Earl of Ranfurly, Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, do hereby direct you, Richard John Seddon, Postmaster-General of the said colony, to enter into a contract on behalf of the Government of the said colony with the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company (Limited) for the carriage of mails each way between Wellington and Vancouver for the period from the first day of December, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven, to the thirty-first day of March inclusive, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, the contract to be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the resolutions attached hereto [see No. 32], passed in the House of Representatives on the thirteenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven. Given under my hand at Timaru, in the said colony, this eleventh day of February, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight. Ranfurly. [Copy of draft contract not printed.]

PAYMENT OF CONTRIBUTION BY IMPERIAL POST OFFICE. No. 120. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 23rd November, 1897. Vancouver service :As per your letter of 19th August [see No. 1, F.-6a., 1897], presume until fast Atlantic connecting service established Imperial Post Office will arrange to pay Postal Union searates conveyance of mails by sea Vancouver-New Zealand should New Zealand agree subsidise Vancouver service. Immediate reply required.

No. 121. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sm,— 10th December, 1897. Referring to your cablegram of the 23rd ultimo, I beg to transmit copy of correspondence with reference to the Vancouver mail-service, by which it will be seen that the Imperial Post Office are prepared to pay full Union sea-rates in the case of any mails for New Zealand which may be forwarded by that route. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Reeves.

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Enclosure 1 in No. 121. The Agent-Genebal to the Seceetaby, General Post Office, London. Sib,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 23rd November, 1897. Referring to my letter of the 6th April last, and to your reply thereto of the 17th August last [see Enclosures 1 and 2 in No. 1, F.-6a, 1897], T beg leave to inquire, for the information of my Government, whether, pending the establishment of a fast connecting Atlantic service, the Imperial Post Office will be prepared to pay Postal Union sea-rates for the conveyance of mails between Vancouver and New Zealand in case my Government agree to subsidise such service. As my Government are anxious to obtain a reply to this inquiry as soon as possible, I shall be much obliged if you will give the matter your consideration at your earliest convenience. I am, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, E.C. W. P. Reeves.

Enclosure 2 in No. 121. The Seceetaky, General Post Office, London, to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— General Post Office, E. 0., 9th December, 1897. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd of last month, in which you inquire whether, pending the establishment of a fast Atlantic connecting service, this office would be prepared to pay (presumably to the Post Office of New Zealand) Postal Union sea-rates for the conveyance of mails between Vancouver and New Zealand in case the Government of that colony agreed to subsidise such service. In reply, I am to inform you that, in respect of the correspondence for Fiji and Australia which is already sent hence vid Vancouver, the full Union rates for land and sea transit are paid by this department to the Canadian Post Office, as that office subsidises the Canadian-Australian Steamship Company, and is therefore entitled to receive the payment referred to. The same course would be applicable in the case of any mails for New Zealand which might be forwarded by the Canadian-Australian line, unless any arrangement to the contrary were made between the Canadian and New Zealand Governments. In case such an arrangement should be arrived at, the Postmaster-General would be glad to learn the result of it. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. H. Buxton Foeman.

No. 122. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Peemieb. (Telegram.) London, 10th December, 1897. In reply to your telegram of 23rd November, Imperial Post Office will arrange to pay Postal Union sea-rates.

No. 123. The Agent-Genbeal to the Hon. the Peemieb. (Telegram.) London, 22nd December, 1897. With reference to telegram 10th, Huddart shows letter Colonial Office, indicating Imperial Post Office intends paying Postal Union sea-rates Vancouver-New Zealand to Canadian Government unless it has been arranged otherwise.

No. 124. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Peemiee. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,— 24th December, 1897. Referring to my letter of the 10th instant, enclosing copy of letter from the Imperial Post Office relating to the payment of Postal Union sea-rates as regards the Vancouver mail-service to New Zealand, I beg to transmit herewith copy of correspondence between the Colonial Office and Mr. Huddart, which appears to indicate that, unless some arrangement is made to the contrary, the Imperial Post Office will pay to the Canadian Government the Postal Union sea-rates in the case of any mails for New Zealand which may be forwarded by the Vancouver route. According, however, to a letter (copy herewith) received by me from Mr. Huddart, it would appear that his company expects to receive the amount of these Union sea-rates as part payment for carrying the mails from Vancouver to New Zealand. In the absence, therefore, of particulars of the arrangements made by the Government, I deemed it right to acquaint you by cablegram [see No. 123] of what appeared to be the understanding on this side, as, if the sea-rates paid by the Imperial Post Office on account of the New Zealand mails are first paid to the Canadian Government, it will, I assume, be necessary that arrangements be made so that the amounts thus received may eventually be paid over to the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company. I have, &c, The Hon the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Reeves.

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Enclosure 1 in No. 124. Mr. Huddaet to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. Sib, — London, 7th December, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the Ist December, and take note that you have asked the Post Office as to the probable amount of the earnings on mails carried to New Zealand, and as to the opinion of the Postmaster-General on the arrangements which my company desire to make in connection with the mail-service to New Zealand by way of Vancouver. As the subject is likely to be dealt with by the New Zealand Parliament during this week, I shall be greatly obliged if you can now supply the above information. In making the request for an Imperial subsidy to the extent of £10,000 per annum, I had in mind the importance of my company being able to rely upon a stated income ; and, in consideration of this sum, I was willing not only that the present subsidy paid by the Crown colony of Fiji, but that the revenue to be derived from the carriage of the Imperial mails to New Zealand vid Vancouver should be collected by the Imperial Government as a set-off against the aforesaid £10,000. To this extent I am still hopeful that Mr. Secretary Chamberlain will see his way clear to assist my company. The fast Atlantic service to which you allude does not appear to be in a progressive state, and in any event it must be at least two years before the Imperial Government will be called upon to contribute their proportion of this subsidy. Perhaps Mr. Secretary Chamberlain would be willing in the meantime to agree to the Imperial Government subsidising my company to the extent asked, subject to revisal after the fast Atlantic service shall have become an accomplished fact. I have, &c, James Huddart. The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, Downing Street, S.W.

Enclosure 2 in No. 124. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Mr. Huddart. Sir,— Downing Street, 20th December, 1897. I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, further pressing your representation in favour of an Imperial subsidy to the Canadian-Australian Steamship Company, in consideration of the service to Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Chamberlain regrets, as you have already been informed, that the conditions on which the Imperial Government has undertaken to provide a subsidy of £51,500 a year for the fast Atlantic service to Canada preclude Her Majesty's Government from considering your request for a subsidy of £10,000 a year, even for a limited period, from Imperial funds. As regards earnings on mails carried to New Zealand, the General Post Office informs the Secretary of State that, in respect of the correspondence for Fiji and Australia, which is already sent vid Vancouver, the full Union rates are paid oy the Imperial Post Office to the Canadian Post Office, in virtue of the subsidy which the Canadian Government pays to your company, and that the same course would be followed in the case of any mails for New Zealand which might be forwarded by the Canadian-Australian line, unless any arrangement to the contrary should be made between the Canadian and New Zealand Governments. The Postmaster-General is therefore unable to hold out any expectation that earnings could be received, either by the General Post Office or by your company, on letters carried from this country to New Zealand. As to your proposal that, pending the establishment of the fast Atlantic service, mails for Vancouver should be sent vid New York, I am to inform you that Her Majesty's Government prefer to retain a service which follows a route wholly British, and that they are therefore unable to alter the existing arrangements in the way which you propose. And in any case, in the event of your company concluding a contract with the Government of New Zealand, the General Post Office will not be in a position to discuss the advantage of discontinuing the use of the service vid Suez until they have full particulars of the new arrangements. As regards Fiji, Mr. Chamberlain has nothing to add to the letter from this department of the Ist instant. I am, &c, James Huddart, Esq. H. Bertram Cox.

Enclosure 3 in No. 124. Mr. Huddart to the Agent-General. Sir,— 150, Leadenhall Street, E.C., 14th December, 1897. I have the pleasure to inform you that I have just received a cable from my son, Mr. Ethelbert Huddart, now in Wellington, New Zealand, to say that the New Zealand Parliament has carried unanimously a resolution authorising the Government to contract with us for the carriage of mails from New Zealand to Vancouver, &c, and Europe. The amount they guarantee as a minimum is £7,500 per annum, and they also inform us that the Imperial Government has guaranteed payment to us of letters proceeding by the reverse route via Vancouver to New Zealand. In fact, the New Zealand Government has placed us in the same position as the San Francisco mail-service has been placed in for some years. The total income from poundage on mail-matter for the first year may be expected to amount to about £15,000; but the exact amount, of course, will depend upon the bulk of the mails. We beg, as nianagers, to thank you sincerely for the assistance you have rendered to us in connection with these negotiations. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. James Huddart.

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No. 125. The Hon. the Pbemieb to the Agent-Genebal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 30th December, 1897. In reply'to your telegram [of 22nd December], request Imperial Post Office pay New Zealand same as Frisco, not Canada.

No. 126. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Peemiee. (Telegram.) London, 10th January, 1898. Impebial Post Office payment New Zealand-Vancouver sea-rates depends upon consent Canada. I recommend New Zealand Government negotiate with Ottawa Government direct. If you do not succeed, suggest, as it is important, Government authorise Agent-General proceed Ottawa for purpose of settling matters. Could reach there in a week's time. Huddart will be at Ottawa about end of the week.

No. 127. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Agent-Geneeal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 17th January, 1898. Vancouvee service: Again press Imperial Post Office arrange contractors receive payment London mails for colony. Strongly objected to Canada being paid for New Zealand mails. Understood from telegram 10th December payment would be made colony for contractors, same as Frisco. Eesolutions House covered this. Grave injustice contractors if payment witheld.

No. 128. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Peemiee. (Telegram.) London, 17th January, 1898. Vancouveb service: Have pressed Imperial Post Office, and shall continue to act as instructed. Nevertheless think it desirable New Zealand Government confer direct with Ottawa, or Government authorise Agent-General do so.

No. 129. The Hon. the Pbemiee to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 18th January, 1898. I have the honour to confirm my telegram to you of the 17th instant. . . . The position has also been placed before the Postmaster-General of New South Wales, with a request that the Agent-General for that colony should assist you in obtaining recognition of the claims of the contractors to the payment. I have, &c, The Hon. W. P. Beeves, W. C. Walkee, Agent-General for New Zealand, London. For the Premier.

No. 130. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Agent-Geneeal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 20th January, 1898. In face present uncertainty and Australian-Canadian Company being in liquidation, am not pressing Imperial authorities to act for a space. Better hold in abeyance.

No. 131. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Peemieb. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— 19th January, 1898. Eeferring to my letter of the 31st ultimo [see No. 62], I beg to transmit copy of further correspondence which has taken place with the Imperial Post Office on the subject of the San Francisco and Vancouver mail-services. I have also had interviews with the Assistant Secretary of the General Post Office, who is dealing with the matter, and have strongly represented to him the views and wishes of the Government with regard to the various questions which have arisen in connection therewith. With regard to the request made by the Government that all mail-matter (except that specially superscribed for other routes) be forwarded by either the San Francisco or Vancouver route, the Imperial Post Office have not yet communicated to me their decision, nor, so far as could be gathered at an interview with the Assistant Secretary yesterday, can I expect to receive it before the leaving of this mail. I gather, however, from the conversations had with him, that the Imperial Post Office is disposed to act in accordance with the Government's wish, if such a course can be justified, if only on

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the general ground that the new service is an advantageous one to establish, and should therefore be encouraged, so far as possible, by the Imperial authorities. It has been, however, pointed out that the letters, &c, sent to New Zealand by the Eastern route in the weeks intervening between the despatch of the San Francisco and Vancouver mails would probably reach their destination earlier than if they were kept back to go by either of the latter routes. Moreover, the sending of the mails by either San Francisco or Vancouver would involve the Imperial Government in an expenditure of probably £3,000 or £4,000 per annum, whereas, if the mails went by the Eastern route, any such extra expenditure on the part of the Imperial Government would be avoided. I have, on the other hand, pointed out that there is no regular mail-service between Australia and New Zealand, and that therefore there is no certainty as to the time the mails would reach the latter colony ; and this fact I represented outweighed any advantage likely to arise from the mails being despatched by the Eastern route. With regard to the payment of the Postal Union sea-rates, the position, as I understand it, taken up by the Imperial Post Office is that the line of steamers by which the New Zealand mails will be carried from and to Vancouver was in the first place established by a subsidy from Canada, while the mail-service now contracted for with the New Zealand Government can only be regarded as a loop-line or branch of the main service, and that therefore the question as to how the sea-rates shall be apportioned is one that should be the subject of arrangement between the two colonies who are supporting the service by subsidy or otherwise. I shall take every opportunity of pressing upon the Imperial Post Office the Government's claim that the sea-rates for the New Zealand outward mails shall be paid to the New Zealand Post Office. At the same time I cannot help thinking that the Imperial Post Office are not very likely to withdraw from the position they have taken up, and that they will persist in requiring Canada's concurrence before paying the sea-rates to New Zealand. I accordingly ventured to suggest to you in my cablegrams of the 10th and 17th instant that you should confer direct with the Government at Ottawa with respect to the matter, or authorise me to do so. In addition to the correspondence between the General Post Office and myself, I transmit copy of letter which I have this day received from the Colonial Office, enclosing copy of letter (dated 10th December last) from the General Post Office. With regard to the proceedings now being taken to wind up the Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, I am informed on good authority that these proceedings will not interfere with the mail-service which that company has contracted to carry on between New Zealand and Vancouver, and you will see that, in reply to the Imperial Post Office's inquiry with respect to these proceedings, I have made a statement to that effect. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure 1 in No. 131. The Secretaky to the Agent-Genebal to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, London. Sib,— 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 22nd December, 1897. I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant [see Enclosure 2in No. 121], by which it is understood that full Postal Union sea-rates for the conveyance of mails between Vancouver and New Zealand will, in case the New Zealand Government subsidise such service, be paid by your department to the Post Office of New Zealand. I must add that the Agent-General is not at present in possession of any information as regards any arrangement to the contrary between the Canadian and New Zealand Governments. I am, &c, Walter Kennaway. The Secretary to the General Post Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand.

Enclosure 2 in No. 131. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, London, to the Seceetaey to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— General Post Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand, 7th January, 1898. With reference to our interview of yesterday, I beg leave to inform you that the letter from your office of the 22nd of last month, to which you referred, has now been found. I regret to find that it was mislaid after its due receipt here, and the more so because it is evident from its terms that the meaning of the letter from this office of the 9th ultimo has been misinterpreted. The statement that " the same course would be applicable in the case of any mails for New Zealand which might be forwarded by che Canadian-Australian line," as in the case of correspondence for Fiji and Australia already sent hence via Vancouver, was intended to be taken quite literally ; and, as it was explained that in the already existing case the payment for land and sea transit is made to the Canadian Post Office, I am at a loss to understand how the words could be taken as meaning that payment in respect of such transits would, in regard to correspondence for New Zealand, be made to the New Zealand Post Office. As clearly implied in the last paragraph but one of my previous letter any departure from the arrangement mentioned above would be a subject on which the New Zealand Government would have to come to terms with that of Canada, as the colony primarily subsidising the line of packets concerned.

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I beg leave to point out, too, that the last paragraph of ray letter relates expressly to future arrangements, not to existing arrangements. I am, &c, W Kennaway, Esq., C.M.G. H. Buxton Forman.

Enclosure 3 m No. 131. The Secbetaey to the Agent-Geneeal to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, London. Sib,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 11th January, 1898. Keferring to my letter of the 27th ultimo [see Enclosure 1 in No. 62], giving particulars of the arrangements made with respect to the mails from New Zealand via San Francisco and Vancouver, I am directed by the Agent-General to state, for the information of the Postmaster-General, that he has this day received a cablegram from his Government informing him that the next mail to be forwarded vid Vancouver will leave Wellington on Thursday, the 3rd February, and will be due in London on Wednesday, the 9th March, and that the despatch from Wellington and arrival in London will be continued thereafter every fourth Thursday and Wednesday respectively. It will be noted that this arrangement is in alteration of that given in my letter of the 27th ultimo. I am, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, London, E.C. Walteb Kennaway.

Enclosure 4 in No. 131. The Agent-Genebal to the Sbcbetaby, General Post Office, London. Sib,— 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 17th January, 1898. Referring to previous correspondence relating to the payment of Postal Union sea-rates as regards the mails between Vancouver and New Zealand, I beg leave to state that I have received instructions by cablegram from my Government to strongly urge that the Imperial Post Office arrange so that the contractors for the conveyance of the New Zealand mails between Vancouver and Wellington may receive the sea-rates payable in respect of the mails despatched from London to the colony by that route. The contract by means of which the New Zealand mails will be conveyed to and from London vid Vancouver has been arranged by my Government on behalf of New Zealand, and gives the guarantee of that colony of a minimum amount of payment to the company who have undertaken to carry the mails between Vancouver and New Zealand, and my Government most strongly object to the sea-rates payable for the transmission of the New Zealand mails which are forwarded under the provisions of that contract being paid over to Canada. I beg permission, therefore, to request the favour of your again bringing the matter under the notice of the Postmaster-General, with a request, on behalf of my Government, that their claim in respect to the payment of the sea-rates receive his careful consideration. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, London, E.C. W. P. Eebves.

Enclosure 5 in No. 131. The Undee-Secbetaey of State, Colonial Office, to the Agent-Geneeal. Sic, — Downing Street, 18th January, 1898. I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you for your information a copy of a letter from the Post Office respecting the suggestion that the mail-service to New Zealand via Vancouver should be subsidised by the Imperial Government. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. H. Beeteam Cox.

Sub-enclosure to Enclosure 5 in No. 131. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, London, to the Undbb-Seceetaey of State, Colonial Office. Sic, — General Post Office, London, 10th December, 1897. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Ist instant, forwarding copies of two letters from Mr. Huddart, in which he describes the arrangements desired by the Canadian-Australian Steamship Company for the transmission of mails to Vancouver in the event of their concluding a contract with New Zealand for a mail-service to that colony vid Vancouver, and requests a direct Imperial subsidy of about £10,000 a year. In reply, I am to remind the Secretary of State for the Colonies of the condition under which the Imperial Government has consented to contribute towards the cost of a mail-service between the United Kingdom and Australasia vid Canada —namely, that the Imperial contribution of £51,500 a year towards the cost of a fast mail-service between this country and Canada is to B bc regarded as in aid of the accomplishment of the Pacific no less than of the Atlantic section of the Ottawa scheme. The Lords of the Treasury, it will be remembered, stated that no additional subsidy was to be looked for from the Home Government towards the improvement of the service on the Pacific, the arrangement of which is to be left to the Governments of Canada and the Colonies of Australasia.

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As the Secretary of State is aware, a tender for the fast Atlantic service has been accepted, and it is to be hoped that such service will in due course be commenced, but the condition under which the Imperial contribution has been promised renders it impossible to entertain any application from Mr. Huddart for an annual payment to him out of Imperial funds in respect of the service which he is performing, or will perform, between Vancouver and Australasia. I am to add that a letter was received some months ago from the Agent-General for New Zealand announcing the intention of his Government to establish a mail-service by way of Vancouver in alternation with the existing service via San Francisco, which is to be continued and improved, and inquiring to what extent the Imperial Government would contribute towards the cost of these services. In the reply from this office it was pointed out that, as regards the line via San Francisco, the Treasury have repeatedly declined to give any contribution towards the cost of the service to the New Zealand Government, except the sea-postage payable on the mails from this country under the regulations of the Postal Union ; and it was stated that the Postmaster-General was not prepared to recommend their Lordships to alter their decision. With regard to the proposed Vancouver service, the Agent-General was informed of the condition attaching to the Imperial support of the Canadian fast Atlantic service as above referred to, under which the PostmasterGeneral was precluded from making any contribution to the mail-service on the Pacific. The Agent-General has lately further inquired whether, pending the establishment of a fast Atlantic connecting service, this office would be prepared to pay to the Post Office of New Zealand Postal Union sea-rates for the conveyance of mails between Vancouver and New Zealand in case the Government of that colony agreed to subsidise such service. The answer from this department was to the effect that, in respect of the correspondence for Fiji and Australia which is already sent hence via Vancouver, the full Union rates for land and sea transit are paid by this department to the Canadian Post Office, as that office subsidises the Canadian-Australian Steamship Company, and is therefore entitled to receive the payment referred to, and that the same course would be applicable in the case of any mails for New Zealand which might be forwarded by the CanadianAustralian line, unless any arrangement to the contrary were made between the Canadian and New Zealand Governments. In these circumstances it will be seen that the Postmaster-General is unable to hold out any expectation of earnings by the Canadian-Australian Steamship Company from this department on letters from this country for New Zealand. I am to add that if Mr. Secretary Chamberlain thought it desirable to forego the advantage of a wholly British route for mails going via Vancouver to New Zealand there would probably be no objection on the. part of the Postmaster-General to the transmission of the mails via New York until such time as the fast Atlantic service to Canada may be established; but he could scarcely pledge himself to send mails to New Zealand solely by way of Vancouver and San Francisco alternately until he has full particulars of the new arrangements, and is thus in a position to judge whether he would be justified in discontinuing the use of the service vid Suez for the transmission of mails to New Zealand. I am, &c, W. Eoche, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. For the Secretary.

No. 132. The A&ent-Genebal to the Hon. the Pbemieb. (Telegram.) London, 3rd February, 1898. Imperial Post Office consents despatch all mail-matter San Francisco Vancouver, except specially addressed. Secondly, states, with regard to sea-rates, matter one for arrangement between New Zealand and Canada, but offers, if desired, address Canada with regard to subject.

No. 133. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 10th February, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th December last [see No. 121], transmitting copy of correspondence with the Imperial Post Office, indicating that that office was prepared to pay full Postal Union sea-rates in the case of any mails for New Zealand which might be forwarded by way of Vancouver. I was already aware from your later advices that the intention of the London Post Office was to pay these rates to the Canadian Post Office, and not to the contractors, as I had assumed, concerning which I have communicated with you by cable. I am at a loss to understand why it should have been decided to make payment to Canada for the carriage of mails for this colony, especially when it is remembered that New South Wales was already a party to the contract, and that New Zealand had decided to subsidise the service as well. I trust, however, that the representations which you have made to the Imperial Post Office will result in the payments being diverted to the contractors. I have, &c, The Hon. W. P. Beeves, W. C. Walkee, Agent-General for New Zealand, London. For the Premier.

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No. 134. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Peemiee. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 10th February, 1898. Sic, — Pacific Mail-services. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 17th, 21st [neither printed], and 23rd December [see No. 48 , and, in reference thereto, I herewith transmit copy of letter received from the Imperial Post Office, by which it will be seen that, in accordance with the request of the Government, all mail-matter for New Zealand, with the exception of that specially superscribed for transmission by other routes, will be forwarded alternately by way of San Francisco and Vancouver. It will also be seen that the Imperial Post Office maintain the position taken up as regards the disposal of the Postal Union sea-rates payable in respect of the conveyance of the mails between Vancouver and New Zealand, regarding it as a matter which is one for arrangement between New Zealand and Canada. I enclose copy of notice [not printed] issued by the Imperial Post Office, giving the dates of the despatch of the mails to be forwarded vid San Francisco and Vancouver. I also enclose copy of letter addressed to me by the Official Receiver, stating that he has appointed the New Zealand Shipping Company sole agents for New Zealand, with power, inter alia, to receive the subsidies under the Vancouver mail contract. The substance of this notice I communicated to you by cablegram on the Bth instant [see No. 198] . I also enclose newspaper reports [not printed] of the proceedings in Court respecting the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure 1 in No. 134. The Secbetaby, General Post Office, London, to the Agent-Geneeal. Sic, — General Post Office, London, Ist February, 1898. With reference to your letter of the 27th December [see Enclosure 1 in No. 62], lam directed by the Postmaster-General to inform you that he has issued instructions under which all correspondence posted in this country for New Zealand will be sent alternately by way of San Francisco and Vancouver, except when specially superscribed for transmission by another route. Directions have also been given for the mails going to New Zealand by way of Vancouver to be sent for the present vid New York. Mails were sent accordingly vid Vancouver on the 29th ultimo, and the future arrangements are shown in the enclosed notice. With regard to the request made in your letter of the 17th ultimo, on behalf of your Government, that this department should arrange for the contractors for the New Zealand mailservice between Vancouver and Wellington to receive the sea-rates payable in respect of the mails despatched from London to the colony by that route, I am to state that, as indicated in my letter of the 9th December last, and at the interview with you which subsequently took place at this office, this matter is one for arrangement between the New Zealand and Canadian Post Offices. The Postmaster-General can of course, if you wish it, address the Canadian Post Office on the subject. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, H. Buxton Foeman. Enclosure 2 in No. 134. The Official Eeoeivee in Companies' Liquidation to the Agent-Geneeal. Board of Trade, Department of the Official Receiver in Companies' Liquidation, Sic,— 33, Carey Street, Lincoln's Inn,. 4th February, 1898. The Canadian-Australian Boyal Mail Steamship Company (Limited). I beg to inform you that an order has been made to wind up the affairs of the company under which I am constituted Provisional Liquidator, and that I have appointed the New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited) sole agents for New Zealand, with power, inter alia, to receive the subsidies from the Government of New Zealand, to whom I shall be obliged if you will communicate this information. I am, &c, G. S. Baenes, Senior Official Receiver in Companies' Liquidation. The Agent-General for New Zealand.

No. 136. The Hon. the Peemieb to the Agent-Geneeal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 11th February, 1898. Vancouvee service and your telegram third : Prefer that Imperial Post Office address Canada.

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No. 136. The Secretaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmastee-Genebal, Sydney. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 12th February, 1898. I have ' the honour to enclose herewith copy of a letter from Mr. Huddart [see Enclosure 1 in No. 124] to the Colonial Office, received through the Agent-General for this colony, relative to the proposal of the London Post Office to pay over to Canada the Postal Unior sea-rates for the conveyance of New Zealand correspondence from Vancouver. As you are aware, the resolutions passed in the House of Representatives of this colony on the 13th December last in connection with the Vancouver service provided that all payments or contributions from other countries were to be receivable by the contractors, and from a cablegram received from the Agent-General for New Zealand on the 10th idem it was presumed that the sea-rates for the conveyance of the London mails between New Zealand and Vancouver'would be so paid. From later advices, however, it would appear that it was the intention of the Imperial Post Office to pay the rates to Canada. The Agent-General was therefore requested to press for the arranging of the payment to the contractors, but up to the present the desired consent has not been obtained. He has again cabled that the London Office states that the question is one for arrangement between New Zealand and Canada, but that office has offered to address the Canadian Government on the subject. This offer has been accepted. I should, however, be glad if you could also see your way to move in the matter, and request the Agent-General for your colony to cooperate with the Hon. Mr. Reeves for the purpose of making joint representations to the London Post Office, so that a satisfactory settlement may be come to as soon as possible. Of course, should Canada in the meantime agree to the desired arrangement further action will not be necessary. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 137. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Pbemiee. (Telegram.) London, 14th February, 1898. Vancouver service : In reply to your telegram 11th, I am strongly of opinion inexpedient Imperial Post Office address Canada with regard to sea-rates. I think Imperial Post Office views unfavourable to New Zealand Government's claim. Would again urge you to approach Canada direct.

No. 138. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sm,— General Post Office, London, 17th February, 1898. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth of last month [see No. 70] on the subject of the arrangements for the mail packet services between Auckland and San Francisco, and between Wellington and Vancouver, and enclosing a,, pro forma time-table of these services for the present year. At the request of the Agent-General, instructions had already been given for all correspondence for New Zealand to be sent alternately vid San Francisco and via Vancouver, unless specially superscribed to be forwarded by some other route. Pending the establishment of the proposed fast Canadian packet service, the mails are being forwarded by way of New York. I am, &c, The Postmaster-General, Wellington. H. Buxton Forman.

No. 139. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Peemiee. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 25th February, 1898. Sib, — Pacific Mail-service. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of- your letter of the Bth January last [see No. 69], enclosing draft copy of the Vancouver mail-service contract, and also copies of the pro forma timetables. Since my letter to you of the 10th instant I received your telegram of the 11th instant, stating you would prefer that the Imperial Post Office should address Canada as regards the payment of the sea-rates. At an interview I had with the Assistant Secretary at the London Post Office this matter was fully discussed, with the result that I felt convinced that the Imperial Post Office were not at all inclined to alter their views, inasmuch as in previous similar cases precedents had been established which, if followed as regards the Vancouver service, would place, at all events, a considerable portion of the sea-rates at the disposal of Canada. All the special particulars connected with the establishment of the Vancouver service are necessarily better known to New Zealand than to the Imperial authorities, and I cannot therefore help thinking that the interests of the colony and also of the contractors would be better served if you were either to communicate direct with Canada on the subject or instruct me to do so on your behalf. I therefore sent you a cablegram on the 14th instant expressing my opinion that it would not be expedient to ask the Imperial Post Office to address Canada, and repeating the

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suggestion I had previously ventured to make in the cablegram which I sent to you on the 17th January last, and pending your further definite instructions I shall refrain from communicating with the London Post Office on the matter. With regard to the position of Mr Huddart and of the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company .... I enclose copy of letter which I addressed to the Imperial Post Office on the 31st ultimo, which was omitted to be sent with my letter of the 10th instant. I also attach newspaper report [not printed] of the meeting of the creditors and shareholders of the company, which was held on the 22nd instant. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure in No. 139. The Seceetabt to the Agent-Geneeal to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, London. Sib, — 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 31st January, 1898. Eeferring to my letter of the 18th instant [not printed], and to previous correspondence, I am directed by the Agent-General to enclose herewith a copy of the pro forma Pacific mail timetable for 1898, which the Agent-General has received from his Government. I have to add that the Postal authorities in New Zealand state that the time of the Vancouver mail between London and New Zealand is under thirty-five days, and from New Zealand to London under thirty-four days, and that, pending the establishment of the fast Atlantic service from Canada, mails will be transferred to and from the United States lines at Portal, and carried by the Atlantic steamers to and from New York. I have also to state that, as it is expected that the " Campania " will carry the mails to New York, it is proposed that the mail-steamers for New Zealand shall leave San Francisco on Wednesday, instead of Thursday, commencing on the 23rd February next. I herewith also transmit copies of the resolutions passed by the New Zealand Parliament with reference to the Pacific mail-service. I have, &c, The Secretary to the General Post Office, Waltek Kennaway. St. Martin's-le-Grand.

No. 140. The Deputy Postmasteb-Geneeal, Sydney, to the Secrbtaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir,— General Post Office, Sydney, 28th February, 1898. Eeferring to your communication of the 12th instant, intimating that you enclosed therewith copy of a letter from Mr. Huddart to the Colonial Office, received through the Agent-General for New Zealand, relative to the proposal of the London Post Office to pay over to Canada the Postal Union sea-rates for the conveyance of New Zealand correspondence from Vancouver, I am directed to state that the copy mentioned did not arrive with your letter, but one of a communication from the Colonial Office, signed by H. Bertram Cox, was forwarded by you. With regard to your desire that this office should also move in the matter of pressing for arrangements to be made for payment of the rates in question to the contractors for the CanadianAustralian mail-service and request the Agent-General for this colony to co-operate with the AgentGeneral for New Zealand for the purpose of making joint representations to the London Post Office, so that a satisfactory settlement may be come to as soon as possible, I am to state that on the 31st ultimo the following cablegram was sent by the Premier of this colony to our AgentGeneral, namely: "Support Huddart's view in every possible way except pecuniary responsibility." A few days later the Agent-General despatched a cablegram to Sydney on the subject, and in reply, the under-mentioned message was sent to him on the 23rd idem by the Premier, namely : " Be Huddart, can only repeat instructions assist him every way except pecuniary responsibility." . I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Deputy Postmaster-General.

No. 141. The Hon. the Pbemiee to the Agent-Genebal. ■ (Telegram.) Wellington, 2nd March, 1898. Vancouveb service and your telegram fourteenth: Approach Canada behalf Government. Urge that Imperial Post Office payments should be paid over to contractors. Inequitable that sea-rates conveyance London mails to New Zealand receivable by Canada, New South Wales New Zealand subsidising service. Similar payment Frisco service paid over by New Zealand to contractors. New South Wales asked direct its Agent-General co-operate.

No. 142. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Premier. g IE) — Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 10th March, 1898. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your cablegram, instructing me to approach the Canadian Government and urgently represent that the amount of the Postal Onion sea-rates which

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will be payable by the Imperial Post Office on account of the New Zealand mails from Vancouver to Wellington should be paid to New Zealand, so that they may be handed over to the company whose steamers convey the mails under their contract with the New Zealand Government. In your cablegram you intimate that you have asked the New South Wales Government to instruct their Agent-General to co-operate with me in negotiating with the Canadian Government. The Agent-General for New South Wales has, however, not yet received his instructions, but as soon as they arrive I shall at once consult with him with regard to the matter. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

No. 143. The Hon. the Pebmiee to the Agent-General. Premier's Office, Wellington, 10th March, 1898. Sib, — Vancouver Mail-service. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 14th ultimo, and to confirm mine to you of the 2nd instant. It was thought advisable, in order to save time, that Canada should be approached direct by you. I learn that the Agent-General for New South Wales has, in response to my request, been instructed by cable to give you every assistance, and with his aid you will no doubt succeed in inducing the Canadian postal authorities to pay over the Postal Union sea-rates in question to the mail-contractors. I have, &c. B. J. Seddon. The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 144. The Secretaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 12th March, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th ultimo, advising that your Agent-General had been requested to co-operate with the Agent-General for this colony for the purpose of making joint representation to the London Post Office for the sea-rates for conveyance from Vancouver of the London mails to New Zealand being paid over to the contractors and not to Canada, for which I have to convey the thanks of the Postmaster-General. After the despatch of my letter of the 12th ultimo our Agent-General cabled that it would be more advisable to approach Canada direct in the matter, and this was agreed to. The Eight Hon. Mr. Seddon informed the Hon. Mr. Cook on the Ist instant of this change, of which your Agent-General has no doubt been duly advised. It is hoped that an early and satisfactory settlement will be arrived at. The enclosure forwarded in my letter was wrongly stated as from Mr. Huddart to the Colonial Office, instead of as from that office to Mr. Huddart. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 145. The Hon. the Premise to the Agent-General. Sic,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 16th March, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th January, transmitting copy of further correspondence between yourself and the Imperial Post Office on the subject of the San Francisco and Vancouver mail-services. I am obliged for your action in respect of the payment of sea-rates for conveyance of the British mails for New Zealand from Vancouver. My telegrams indicate my views on the matter, and I trust that you may be able to prevail on the Canadian Government to agree to payment being made the contractors. Your telegram of the 3rd February had already informed me that the London Post Office had agreed to forward all mail-matter for New Zealand by the San Francisco and Vancouver services, except such as may be specially superscribed for transmission by other routes, a decision which I regard as highly satisfactory to the colony. I have, &c, E. J. Seddon. The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 146. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. (Telegram.) London, 18th March, 1898. Vancouver service : With reference to telegram second, Agent-General for New South Wales has not yet received instructions to co-operate. Am Ito act without him?

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No. 147. The Hon. the Pbemiee to the Agent-Genebal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 21st March, 1898. Vancouver service : With reference to telegram eighteenth, wait until Agent-General for New South Wales instructed.

No. 148. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 21st March, 1898. Oub Agent-General cables that your Agent-General not yet instructed co-operate with him re Vancouver contractors being paid sea-rates. Please inquire and reply.

No. 149. The Hon. the Postmaster-Geneeal, Sydney, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 22nd March, 1898. I thought we had explained that our Agent-General had been instructed to assist Huddart in every possible way.

No. 150. The Hon. the Pbemiee to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 22nd April, 1898. Vancouver sea-rates : With reference to telegram 21st March, Post Office here will now approach Canada direct.

No. 151. The Hon. the Peemieb to the Agent-Genebal. Sir,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 27th April, 1898. In confirming my telegram of the 22nd instant, stating that the Post Office here would now approach the Canadian Post Office direct in connection with the question of payment of searates for conveyance of New Zealand mails from Vancouver, I have the honour to inform you that this course appeared to be advisable owing to the fact, as I subsequently learned, that the New South Wales Government had not instructed its Agent-General to co-operate with you in the matter, but merely to assist Mr. Huddart to obtain Canada's consent to pay over the sea-rates to the contractors, and that it did not think that it should do more than this. The necessary representations have now been made to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa. I have, &c, The Hon. W. P. Reeves, W. C. Walkeb, Agent-General for New Zealand, London. For the Premier.

No. 152. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmasteb-Genebal, Ottawa. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 28th April, 1898. I have the honour to inform you that clause 6 of the resolutions passed by the House of Representatives of this colony, authorising this department to subsidise the Vancouver-Pacific mail - service, provides that all payments or contributions receivable from other countries should be paid to the contractors. These resolutions were submitted to your Administration under cover of my letter of the 23rd December [see No. 157], and elicited your acknowledgment of the 25th January last [see No. 176]. It may be explained that under the San Francisco mail .contract the payments for the conveyance of United Kingdom mails for New Zealand across the Pacific are made by the London Post Office to this department, not to the United States, and paid over to the contractors; and this office was led to suppose that the sea-rates on London mails for this colony forwarded by the Vancouver service, on the colony becoming one of the contracting parties, would be paid to this department. It has, however, been ascertained through our Agent-General that under the original Vancouver-Sydney contract your Administration receives the sea-rates payable by the United Kingdom for the transmission of mail-matter for the Australian Colonies by the Vancouver service, and that the London Post Office would make payment on correspondence for New Zealand in a similar manner, unless some specific agreement to the contrary were arrived at between our Administrations. I am therefore directed to bring the matter under your notice, and to point out that as the original Vancouver-Sydney contract cannot be held to cover the conveyance across the Pacific of United Kingdom correspondence for New Zealand, which had not been diverted to the Vancouver route until this colony became one of the contracting parties, the Postmaster-General trusts that under the circumstances your Administration will consent to the sea-rates now receivable from

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London on New Zealand correspondence being paid over to the contractors, a course which, I am directed to state, would have the full sympathy of the N-ew South Wales Post Office. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa, Canada. W. Gbay, Secretary.

No. 153. The Hon. the Pebmibr to the Agent-General. Sib,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 28th April, 1898. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th February last, and the several enclosures relating to the Pacific mail-services, for which I thank you. I have, &c, The Hon. W. P. Beeves, W. C. Walkee, Agent-General for New Zealand, London. For the Premier.

PACIFIC, CANADIAN, AND UNITED STATES TEANSIT. AEEANGEMENT OF TIMETABLE. No. 154. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-Genebal, Ottawa. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 10th December, 1897. I have the honour to transmit herewith, for your information, copy of a Supplementary Order Paper of the House of Representatives, showing the proposals of the Government of this colony in reference to the Pacific mail-services for the period ending the 31st March, 1899. I hope in a few days to have the pleasure of advising you that these proposals have been accepted by Parliament, and to submit a time-table for your approval, which will alternate with that of the San Francisco service, and enable this colony to send to and receive from the United Kingdom mails at regular fortnightly intervals by way of Canada and the United States. Pending the establishing of the fast steamship line across the Atlantic from Canada to the United Kingdom, I should be obliged if you would inform me as to the speediest route by railway from Vancouver to New York. lam given to understand that the quickest despatch is offered by a deviation from the main Canadian Pacific line at Pasqua and the transfer of the mails to the United States lines at North Portal, and if this information is correct I shall be glad to learn all particulars of the connections, and whether the mails would be in charge of an officer of your travelling postoffice as far as North Portal, and be transferred to the care of the United States travelling postoffice at that point. In your reply perhaps you will also be so good as to state the latest days and time at which the mails from here should reach Vancouver to enable them to connect with the fast Atlantic steamers from New York. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa. W. Gray, Secretary.

No. 155. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eepeesentative of the CanadianAustralian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney.) (Telegram.) ■ "Wellington, 22nd December, 1897. I note " Warrimoo " will leave Sydney Monday as advertised. Important " Miowera " should commence new running from Vancouver tenth February. Early reply will oblige.

No. 156. The Eepresentative of the Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company (Limited), Sir,— 63, Pitt Street, Sydney, 23rd December, 1897. We confirm telegrams passed between us, as per copies attached. [See Nos. 116,117,155]. We had an interview with the Deputy Postmaster-General for New South Wales yesterday, and this morning with the Hon. J. Cook, Postmaster-General, and understand that the alteration of sailing-date from Monday to Saturday has been approved. Yours, See., W. Gray, Esq., Wellington, N.Z. Eobert Grayson. P.S.—Since writing foregoing we have received a communication from the Deputy PostmasterGeneral here, as per copy attached. We are now awaiting your reply. —E.G.

Enclosure in No. 156. The Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney, to the Eepresentative of the CanadianAustralian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney. Sir, — General Post Office, Sydney, 23rd December, 1897. Eeferring to your communication of the 22nd instant with reference to the proposal that the steamers of the Canadian-Australian line should leave Sydney on Saturday, instead of Monday

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as at present, I am directed to state that Saturday is a bad mail-day, but, as the reasons for the change appear to be good ones, the Postmaster-General has agreed to such change being adopted on trial. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, Deputy Postmaster-General. B. Grayson, Esq., representing J. Huddart and Company, 63, Pitt Street, Sydney.

No. 157. The Sbcbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa. General Ppst Office, Wellington, 23rd December, 1897. Sir, — Pacific Mail-services, Eeferring to my letter of the 10th instant, I have now the honour to forward the resolutions of Parliament as passed on the 13th idem, and I beg to submit for your approval a time-table which, with the exception of the first voyage of the mail-steamer from San Francisco, will enable a regular fortnightly service to be maintained between this colony, Canada, the United States, and the "United Kingdom. It is the intention of this department to establish a travelling post-office on the mail-steamers, in charge of a New Zealand postal officer, and I shall be much obliged if you will instruct your Postmaster at Vancouver to afford him any facilities in the way of obtaining information concerning the transportation of the mails. Should you so desire, I shall be glad to arrange for the sorting of your mails from this colony into divisions which will facilitate their disposal at Vancouver on your forwarding me distributionlists. The inauguration of a direct mail-service between your dominion and New Zealand gives me an opportunity to express the hope that the good relations which have always existed between our departments will be long maintained. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa, Canada. W. Gray, Secretary.

No. 158. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Ottawa. (Telegram.) Wellington, 24th December, 1897. Colony decided subsidise Vancouver service. Desired despatch steamers from Vancouver three days later than at present, commencing February twelve. Company agrees. Kindly cable approval. Mail under contract leaves here January eighth, then February third, and every succeeding four weeks. Frisco mail leaves London week earlier than now, commencing February twelve.

No. 159. The Bepresentative of the Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 24th December, 1897. Cable received. " Aorangi " advertised January 29th. Have cable London advertise " Warrimoo " February 10th. Will submit company's articles in due course. . . .

No. 160. The General Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 24th December, 1897. I beg give you notice that the date departure "Aorangi" from Wellington has been postponed until 10th February on account necessary repairs to engines at Sydney.

No. 161. The Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-General, Wellington. (Telegram.) Ottawa, 28th December, 1897. This department no objection proposed change date sailing Canadian-Australian steamer from Vancouver commencing tenth February.

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No. 162. The Representative of the Canadian-Austkalian Royal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company (Limited), Sib, — Sydney, 3rd January, 1898. ********* R.M.S. " Aorangi" :We have received advice that it is within the bounds of possibility this steamship may require about four weeks in Sydney in order to effect some alterations in connection with her speed-developments. At the moment we are awaiting further particulars and so soon as we hear will advise you by cable. In the event of her postponement, the first steamship under the new time-table would be the " Miowera " from here 26th February. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., Wellington. Robeet Geayson.

No. 163. The Seceetaey General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Ottawa. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 7th January, 1898. I have the honour, by direction of the Hon. the Postmaster-General, to confirm his telegram to you of the 24th ultimo, and to acknowledge your reply of the 28th idem. I am to express the thanks of the Postmaster-General for your agreeing to the change in the date of sailing. I have also been directed to inform you that the first mail from New Zealand under contract with the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company (Limited) leaves by the " Warrimoo " to-morrow. The succeeding mail will leave here on Thursday, the 29th instant, from which date the departure will be every fourth Thursday. It has been decided that the mails to and from Great Britain shall be forwarded vid New York, and that the overland route east of Moose Jaw shall be via Portal and Chicago, this being represented as the quickest route between Vancouver and New York. The Postmaster-General would be obliged if you gave directions for facilitating the overland transport of the mails both ways. Four copies of the pro forma time-table of the San Francisco and Vancouver contract services are enclosed herewith for your information. I have, &c. The Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 164. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Ottawa. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 7th January, 1898. In connection with the inauguration of a contract mail-service between Vancouver and Wellington, I have the honour to inform you that each mail-steamer will carry a New Zealand mail-agent, whose business will be to distribute the mails received at Vancouver before the vessel arrives in New Zealand, and to sort correspondence and make up closed mails on the outward voyage. For the latter purpose it will be of advantage to know the allotment best suited to your own purposes of the mail-matter for the several mails for Canada, more especially in respect of registered correspondence. I shall be glad, therefore, if you will let me know as early as possible the method of distribution which you wish pursued. I may say that by the San Francisco route all the registered letters from New Zealand for the United States are sent forward on San Francisco. By the outgoing steamer the mail-agent will make up mails for Victoria (British Columbia) and Vancouver, the first to contain correspondence for Victoria, Bsquimalt, and Nanaimo, and the other correspondence for British Columbia (except Victoria, Bsquimalt, and Nanaimo) and other parts of Canada. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa, Canada. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 165. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Supeeintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 7th January, 1898. With reference to my letter of the 23rd ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that the first mail from this colony under the Vancouver mail-service contract leaves here to-morrow by the " Warrimoo," in the charge of an officer of this department. Mail-agents will accompany each contract vessel. Instructions have been given the mail-agent to make up closed mails for San Francisco city, a second mail for San Francisco with transit correspondence for the west coast of Central and South America, and mails for Boston, Chicago, and New York, as is done on the San Francisco steamers. All other correspondence for the United States will be made up in a mail addressed " United States : First distributing office," to facilitate distribution from railway post-offices. Should you desire any variation of this I shall have pleasure in giving effect to your wishes.

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I enclose an amended copy of the pro forma time-table. The only alteration is in respect of the departure from London last month, and the outgoing mail from Sydney and Wellington. The mails to and from Great Britain by the Vancouver service are to be forwarded via New York; and, as at present advised, the overland route will be via Moose Jaw, Portal, and Chicago. I shall be obliged, therefore, if you will give instructions to assure the mails being given prompt despatch both by rail and steamer, and that precautions are to be taken to prevent delay to the mails while conveyed over United States territory, and also in connection with their transfer between the United States and Canadian railway-trains. It.is intended that the outgoing mailagent shall travel to Portal, and perhaps to Chicago, to make himself acquainted with the arrangements for the transfer and conveyance of the mails by train east of Moose Jaw. The Superintendent, Office of Foreign Mails, I have, &c. Post Office Department, Washington, D.C. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 166. The Sbcbbtaky, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eepbesentative of the GanadianAustealian Eoval Mail Steamship Company, Sydney. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, Bth January, 1898. I have the honour to enclose six copies of the pro formd amended time-table for the San i'rancisco and Vancouver mail-services. If any further alterations are made you will be duly advised. I have, &c, Eobert Grayson, Esq., representing the Canadian- W. Geay, Secretary. Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company (Limited), Sydney.

No. 167. The Eepbesentative of the Canadian-Austbalian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company (Limited), Sydney, Sib,— Bth January, 1898. With reference to the suggested time-table which you sent [letter not printed], we notice that you have altered the date of arrival in Sydney, making it one day earlier than in the suggested time-table which you made up in Wellington. You will see that our time-tables are all based on the Wellington one, which gives the arrivals in Sydney of our steamers 10th March, 7th April, sth May, &c. " Aorangi" :As this vessel has arrived in Wellington to-day, having sailed on the 4th December for Vancouver, we are hoping that the new machinery which we have to place on board her can be done in time to enable us to sail on the 29th January, as originally arranged, and we are now waiting cables from the commander of the steamer. We shall probably be wiring you to-morrow further on the matter. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., Eobebt Gbayson. Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

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Sydney to London.

Enclosure in No. 167. Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company (Limited).— Time-table for 1898. London to Sydney.

Steamers. Leave Sydney Saturday. Arrive Wellington Wednesday. Leave Wellington Thursday. Arrive and Leave Suva Tuesday. Arrive and Leave Honolulu Wednesday. Arrive and Leave ! Victoria Wednesday. Arrive Vancouver Thursday. t Arrive New York Wednesday. Arrive London Wednesday. " Aorangi " " Miowera " " Warrimoo " " Aorangi " " Miowera " " Warrimoo " " Aorangi " " Miowera " " Warrimoo " " Aorangi " " Miowera " " Warrimoo " January 29 February 26 March 26 April 23 May 21 June 18 July 16 August 13 Sept. 10 October 8 Nov. 5 December 3 February 2 February 3 ! February 8 March 2 March " 3 ! March 8 March 30 March 31 \ April 5 April 27 April 28 ; May 3 May 25 j May 26 \ May 31 June 22 j June 23 June 28 July 20 ; July 21 July 26 August 17 ! August 18 : August 23 Sept. 14 ' Sept. 15 Sept. 20 October 12 October 13 October 18 Nov. 9 Nov. 10 Nov. 15 December 7 December 8 j December 13 February 16 March ' 16 April 13 May 11 June 8 July 6 August 3 August 31 Sept. 28 October 26 Nov. 23 December 21 February 23 February 24 March 2 March 23 March 24 March 30 April 20 April 21 April 27 May 18 j May 19 May 25 June 15 June 16 June 22 July 13 July 14 July 20 August 10 i August 11 August 17 Sept. 7 ! Sept. 8 Sept. 14 October 5 October 6 October 12 Nov. 2 Nov. 3 Nov. 9 Nov. 30 December 1 December 7 December28 December29 Jan., '99 4 March 9 April 6 May 4 June 1 June 29' July 27 August 24 Sept 21 October 19 Nov. 16 December 14 Jan., '99 11

Steamers. T T , T XT v i Arrive and Leave Arrive and Leave Leave London Leave New York Vancouver Victoria Saturday. Saturday. Thursday . Friaay . Arrive and Leave I Arrive and Leave Honolulu Suva Friday. Monday. Arrive and Leave , ~ , Wellington ; Ar ™ e S / dne y Saturday. Thursday. " Warrimoo " " Aorangi " " Miowera " " Warrimoo " " Aorangi" " Miowera " " Warrimoo " " Aorangi" " Miowera " " Warrimoo " " Aorangi" " Miowera " January 29 ! February 5 February 26 ; March 5 March 26 April 2 April 23 April 30 May 21 May 28 June 18 June 25 July 16 J July 23 August 13 J August 20 September 10 ■ September 17 October 8 i October 15 November 5 November 12 December 3 | December 10 February 10 March " 10 April 7 May . 5 June 2 June 30 July 28 August 25 September 22 October 20 November 17 December 15 February 11 March 11 April 8 May 6 June 3 July 1 July 29 August 26 September 23 October 21 November 18 December 16 February 18 March 18 April 15 May 13 June 10 July 8 August 5 September 2 September 30 October 28 November 25 December 23 February 28 March ' 28 April 25 May 23 June 20 July 18 August 15 September 12 October 10 November 7 December 5 Jan., '99 2 March 5 March 10 April 2 April 7 April 30 May 5 May 28 : June 2 June 25 ; June 30 July 23 July 28 August 20 August 25 September 17 September 22 October 15 October 20 November 12 j November 17 December 10 ! December 15 Jan., '99 7 ; Jan., '99 VI

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No. 168. The Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office> Wellington. Sic, — San Francisco, Bth January, 1898. It is our misfortune this time to have the " Aurania" as a trans-Atlantic connection, so that our steamer the " Moana " will not get away at the earliest until Saturday midnight or Sunday morning. I have acknowledged cablegrams in regard to the extension of the San Francisco and the subsidy to the Vancouver services. Undoubtedly the matter of route for the latter service has had careful consideration, but I am a little inclined to think that a connection at Montreal or other eastern point in the Canadian-Pacific system better, as the Canadian-Pacific Company would be interested in using every possible endeavour to expedite the transit, whereas I do not think the United States railroad companies have the same incentive. I am advised that the route of the mails west of Chicago will be (from that city connecting with the New York Central and Lake Shore railroads), at 6 p.m., via St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Portal—that is to say, per the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Saint Paul railroad to Saint Paul, thence to Portal per Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Saulte Sainte Marie railroad, there connecting with the Canadian-Pacific for Vancouver, the time consumed in transit westward being ninety-one hours, and eastward, leaving Vancouver at 2 p.m., eighty-nine hours. There is only one train daily between Saint Paul and Vancouver, and the connection of the east-bound train with fast mail at Minneapolis is very close and uncertain, and when missed will delay the arrival at New York six hours. It will therefore be necessary for me, I think, to have prompt advices of the transfer-times at Chicago both ways, in case of the necessity of endeavouring to delay Atlantic or Pacific steam-connections. Please consider the matter, and advise me. The homeward mails by the " Moana " left New York by the " New York, " and reached Southampton on the 29th. I am just advised that the " Moana " will not get away until to-morrow, Sunday. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 169. The Hon. the Peemieb to the Agent-Geneeal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 11th January, 1898. With reference to my telegram 24th December [see No. 59], next Vancouver mail leaves here February third; due London March nine ; then every fourth Thursday and Wednesday.

No. 170. The Eepeesentative of the Canadian-Austealian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 18th January, 1898. Sydney postal time-table gives five days between Wellington Sydney, thus allowing twenty-four hours for call Wellington. Will you kindly therefore make day arrival Thursday instead Wednesday. " Aorangi " : Fear work cannot be done by 29th. Sailing-day likely postponed four days. Will wire again. Arrangements hampered by legal proceedings, London, of which I have advised Premier.

No. 171. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eepeesentative of the CanadianAustealian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 18th January, 1898. Sydney arrival will be made Thursday. Eegret to hear that " Aorangi " likely to be four days late. Important I should know immediate sailing actually fixed. Presume delay will not interfere with Vancouver departure.

No. 172. The Eepbesentative of the Canadian-Austealian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 20th January, 1898. Will be able to despatch " Aorangi " February fifths

No. 173. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 21st January, 1898. Geayson advises unable despatch " Aorangi " Sydney before fifth proximo. Have you approved? Will this interfere with departure from Vancouver ?

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No. 174. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eepeesentative of the CanadianAustbalian Boyal Mail Steamship Oompany, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 21st January, 1898. Will " Aorangi's " late departure from Sydney interfere with her Vancouver sailing?

No. 175. The Bepeesentative of the Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 21st January, 1898. " Aorangi " will sail from Vancouver, time-table date.

No. 176. The Deputy Postmaster-Genebal, Ottawa, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — Post Office Department, Ottawa, Canada, 25th January, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your communication of the 10th ultimo, and of your further communication of the 23rd ultimo, enclosing a copy of the resolutions of the New Zealand Legislature providing for the establishment and maintenance of a service once every four weeks between New Zealand (Auckland) and San Francisco, and a service once in four weeks alternating therewith between New Zealand (Wellington) and Vancouver. In the former of these you inquire as to the speediest route by railway between Vancouver and New York, and as to the latest days and times at which mails from New Zealand should reach Vancouver in order to enable them to connect with the fast Atlantic steamers from New York. In reply, I am to say that the route vid Pasqua, about 1,100 miles east of Vancouver, on the line of the Canadian-Pacific Eailway, and North Portal, in the United States, is, as a rule, the most expeditious route from Vancouver to New York. There is at present only one regular mail-train per day over the Canadian-Pacific Eailway, leaving Vancouver at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and in order to connect with a mail-steamer leaving New York mails should be despatched from Vancouver not less than six days prior to the day appointed for the sailing of the steamer. For example, it is anticipated that the mail which, according to the schedule enclosed in your letter, was to have been despatched from Wellington on the 6th January, due at Vancouver on the 27th January, would, if received at Vancouver in time for the train of the 27th, reach New York vid Pasqua and North Portal in time for the steamer of the 2nd proximo—White Star or American line. In view of the statement made in your letter of the 23rd ultimo, that it is the intention of your department to employ a postal officer on the steamer between Wellington and Vancouver, and of the offer you kindly make to have matter for Canada distributed in such a way as to facilitate its despatch to destination, I shall be happy to forward you by next steamer a distribution-list which may be used for the purpose in question. In the meantime, the distribution of which you have already been advised may be followed. I have, &c, The Postmaster-General, Wellington, E. M. Coulter, New Zealand. Deputy Postmaster-General.

No. 177. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eesident Agent for New Zealand San Francisco. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 10th February, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth ultimo. I note that you are of opinion that the Vancouver mails would gain by being sent vid Montreal. The department, however, before coming to the decision to send them by way of Chicago was strongly advised to favour the latter route, as the journey was said to be about one day shorter than by Montreal. We shall, however, be in a better position to judge on the return of the mail-agent by the " Warrimoo," who was instructed to proceed as far east as Chicago, if necessary, but in any case to go as far as Portal, to learn the nature of the arrangements in operation in connection with the transport of mails, and at the same time to ascertain the best route. It would be of service if you also would kindly look into this matter, and I shall be glad if you will do so, and send me a report. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., W. Gray, Secretary. Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, California.

No. 178. The Hon. the Pebmier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 14th February, 1898. " Aorangi " sailed Saturday. Will leave Vancouver two days late.

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No. 179. The Seceetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eepeesentativb of the Canadian-Aus tradian BoYAL Mail Steamship Company, Sydney. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 28th February, 1898. Puepose advertising " Miowera's " mails close Thursday week. Please confirm to-day.

No. 180. The Ebpee sent ATI ye of the Canadian-Austealian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 2nd March, 1898. " Mioweea " advertised leave here Monday.

No. 181. The Supeeintendent of Foeeign Mails, Washington, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Post Office Department, Office of Foreign Mails, Washington, D.C., Sib,— 3rd March, 1898. I have the honour, by direction of the Postmaster-General, to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters of the 7th January last—one [see No. 165] asking to be informed how articles for and via the United States should be distributed by your mail-agent on steamers conveying mails to Vancouver, and stating the distribution which will be made until the desired information is received ; and the other [not printed] in addition to similar information, announcing that the first mail vid Vancouver would be despatched from Wellington on the Bth January, and enclosing a pro formd timetable of the joint service vid San Francisco and vid Vancouver, with request that any desired changes in the same be noted. In reply, I have to inform you that the time-table in question is satisfactory to this department, but that some changes are necessary in the proposed distribution scheme of articles for and vid the United States. In lieu of the distribution indicated in your letters under reply I am directed to request that you will cause the articles for and via the United States despatched by means of steamers sailing for Vancouver to be distributed in mails labelled as follows, viz.:— " San Francisco City," containing only ordinary, (unregistered) articles addressed for delivery in that city. " San Francisco, Foreign Transit," containing articles destined for the west coast of Mexico and Central and South America. " Chicago City," containing ordinary (unregistered) articles addressed for delivery in that city. " Chicago Dis.," containing ordinary (unregistered) articles addressed for delivery in the States of Indiana, Massachusetts (except the City of Boston), Michigan, New York (except the City of New York), Ohio, and Pennsylvania. " New York City," containing ordinary (unregistered) articles addressed for delivery in that city. " New York Dis.," containing ordinary (unregistered) articles addressed for delivery in the States of Connecticut, New Jersey, and Bhode Island. "New York, Foreign Transit," containing ordinary (unregistered) articles for destinations beyond the United States, except the west coast of Mexico and Central and South America. "Boston City," containing ordinary (unregistered) articles addressed for delivery in that city. " Boston Dis.," containing ordinary (unregistered) articles addressed for delivery in the States of Maine and New Hampshire. " Tacoma City," containing ordinary and registered articles addressed for delivery in that city. " Tacoma Dis.," containing all registered articles destined for places in or beyond the United States, except the City of Tacoma, and all ordinary articles addressed for delivery at places within the United States not herein assigned to mails made up for other United States exchange postoffices : that is to say, .except for the Cities of San Francisco and Chicago and the States of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ehode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. It is understood that in each of the mails herein provided for the " letters and post-cards " will be put up separately from the "other articles," and that the "paid" articles will be separated from the " unpaid and short paid," and that each separation will be labelled to indicate the nature of its contents. In the case of the closed mails conveyed to Vancouver, and forwarded thence to New York for despatch to destinations beyond the United States, you will no doubt cause the net weights of the articles therein contained to be promptly advised to the Postmaster of New York, as in the case of similar mails conveyed by steamers sailing for San Francisco. Your attention is called to this matter, because in the case of the closed mails recently received at New York vid Vancouver no statement of their net weight accompanied the mails to New York. For the present, articles from the United States for the colonies will continue to be forwarded in open mail to Vancouver, to be included in mails there made up for despatch per steamers sailing from that port.

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In this connection, and with reference to the report that the steamers to sail from San Francisco will probably leave that port hereafter on Wednesdays, instead of on Thursdays as announced in the pro forma time-table, I have to inform you that this department prefers that the sailing-days should be Thursdays, as originally arranged, for the reason that if the steamers sail on Wednesdays there will be barely time for correspondents east of New York—for instance, in Boston— to reply by the same steamers to letters received from the colonies, this being more particularly the case with respect to registered letters, which, on account of precautions incident to our registry system, require more time than ordinary articles for their transcontinental transit. I am, &c, N. M. Bbooks, The Postmaster-General, Wellington. Superintendent of Foreign Mails.

No. 182. The Hon. the Pbemibe to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 14th March, 1898. " Mioweea " sailed Saturday. Expected leave Vancouver time-table date.

No. 183. The Representative of the Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney, to the Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 15th March, 1898. London cables " Aorangi " left last Saturday, 12th March, only two days late. Inform Government fully expect regular service now maintained.

No. 184. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Superintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 26th April, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd ultimo, in connection with the distribution of articles sent by way of Vancouver for and via the United States, and the time-table of the San Francisco and Vancouver mail-services. I have noted your remarks in regard to the suggested changes in the distribution scheme for correspondence for and via the United States, and have issued instructions for the necessary alterations to commence with the next mail for Vancouver from this colony. The weights of closed mails for places beyond your country will be duly advised to the Postmaster, New York. I also note the disadvantages which it is considered will follow in the eastern part of the United States on the alteration from Thursday to Wednesday in the day of departure of the mailsteamers from San Francisco. Your representations will have consideration when the time comes for framing a new time-table. Wednesday was fixed advisedly on account of the "Campania" being the steamer appointed to convey our mails from Great Britain, which, owing to the high speed that vessel is able to maintain, made it possible to despatch the mails a day earlier from San Francisco. Should Thursday be reverted to, in the event of the " Campania " being withdrawn, the New York Post Office will be duly advised. I have, &c, The Superintendent, Office of Foreign Mails, W. Gray, Secretary. Post Office Department, Washington, D.C.

No. 185. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 28th April, 1898. I have the honour to inform you that mails for the Samoan Islands, if forwarded by the Canadian-Australian line, are liable to a delay of two weeks at Fiji. In all cases Samoan mails would reach their destination quicker if sent by the San Francisco route only. Correspondence for the Friendly or Tongan Islands, if sent by Vancouver, should be included in the mail to Fiji, but if sent vid San Francisco it should be included in the mail for New Zealand. Correspondence for all other groups of islands in the South Pacific will receive the most prompt delivery if included in the mail for this colony. I have, &c, W. Gray, The Secretary, General Post Office, London. For the Postmaster-General.

No. 186. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmasteb-General, Ottawa. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 28th April, 1898. I have the honour to inform you that correspondence for the Samoan Islands, which is at present forwarded from Vancouver and Victoria by the Canadian-Australian line, is liable to »

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delay of two weeks at Fiji. It would therefore appear advisable to despatch such matter by the San Francisco route only. A closed mail should be made up for Fiji, to contain correspondence for the Friendly or Tongan Islands as well. Postal matter for other groups of islands in the South Pacific may be included in the mail to this colony. As a result of a suggestion of the postal authorities at Vancouver, it has been agreed that when the final mail for the colonies arrives there late unsorted American mail for Australia may be sent to the mail-agent, so as to avoid delay in despatch of the steamer where that would result from such mail being sent to the post-office to be sorted. Another suggestion, that our officers should deal with the mails from the other colonies so as to make one mail for each receiving office instead of seven, is not thought to be practicable. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa, Canada. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 187. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Manages, New Zealand Shipping Company, Wellington. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, 4th May, 1898. I have the honour to inform you that I have learned by telegraph from Auckland this morning that when the s.s. " Flora " left Fiji, at 5 p.m. on the 28th ultimo, the E.M.S. " Miowera " was in the harbour. She arrived there at 10 o'clock in the morning, and was advertised to sail at midnight. This seems an unduly protracted stay, considering the steamer was three days late in leaving Vancouver. In cases in which the steamers are behind time it is desirable that detention en route should be materially reduced, and I shall be glad if you will make the necessary arrangements in this direction. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. The Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Wellington.

No. 188. The Besident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Eesident Agency of the New Zealand Government, Sic,— San Francisco, 19th May, 1898. I returned to San Francisco on the 21st ultimo, after twenty days' absence in the Bast and Canada. . . . ;It had been my intention, as mentioned in my last communication [not printed], to take the opportunity of going over the route of the Canadian mails from Chicago to Portal, but unfortunately I received a telegram at Chicago which demanded my presence in Toronto, and prevented me carrying out my desire as regards that portion of the route. I, however, was enabled to make the through trip from Montreal to Vancouver, a long and wearisome journey. I was not at all impressed with the management of the Canadian-Pacific road. We were seven hours late, which seems to be the usual thing, a deficiency in engine-power appearing to be the principal cause of delay. I made inquiries while at Chicago, and learned that one cause of delay to the through mail-service seems to be the disinclination of the Lake Shore and Hudson Eiver railroad to convey mails by their limited train from New York, leaving at 5 p.m., which throws the mails on to the later trains, and thus causes them to miss the 6.30 p.m. train from Chicago the next day, there being only one through train a day to connect at Portal. . . . I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. H. Stephenson Smith.

No. 189. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Peemiee. (Telegram.) London, 4th June, 1898. Vancouvee service : Much dissatisfaction at unpunctual deliveries. Suggest New Zealand Government officer accompany mail endeavour to ascertain what causes delay.

No. 190. The Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram). Sydney, 4th June, 1898. Sydney and Vancouver service : I understood Wellington deviation would only lengthen voyage twenty-four hours. Please explain why in time-table you sent us you provided for longer period.

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No. 191. The Seoeetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 6th June, 1898. Vancouver service : Unaware any understanding that deviation to Wellington would only lengthen voyage twenty-four hours to and from Sydney. Eve days Wellington-Sydney inserted in timetable at request of Mr. Grayson, who represented that four days insufficient after allowing for discharging and coaling here.

No. 192. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the President, Canadian Pacific Eailway Company, Montreal. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 6th June, 1898. I have the honour to tender to your company the thanks of this department for having detained the overland train at Vancouver on the 23rd April last for the colonial mails by the E.M.S. " Warrimoo," thus enabling them to reach New York in time to catch the s.s. " Umbria" from that port on the 30th idem. Your action is much appreciated. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. The President, Canadian Pacific Eailway Company, Montreal, Canada.

No. 193. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Manager, Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Wellington. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 6th June, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant [not printed], advising the reason for the delay to the E.M.S. " Miowera " at Sydney on her present voyage. It was a matter for extreme regret that there should again have been need to interfere with the regular sailing of the Sydney-Vancouver contract steamers, and I trust that the present case will be the last of the irregular sailings. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. The Manager, Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Wellington.

No. 194. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 11th June, 1898. Vancouver service : Agent, San Francisco, instructed accompany " Miowera's " mails to New York, endeavour to ascertain what causes delay, and prevent hereafter. In January mail-agent travelled to Chicago with mails, United States Post Office undertaking prompt despatch onward.

No. 195. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Mail-agent, s.s. "Miowera," Vancouver. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 14th June, 1898. See that mails not delayed overland New York. " Aorangi's " mails arrived Vancouver day early ; London three days late. Previous month's mail also delayed. Inquire.

LIQUIDATION OF CANADIAN - AUSTEALIAN E.M.S. COMPANY. PAYMENT OF SUBSIDY. No. 196. The Local Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Sir,— Wellington, 14th January, 1898. I beg to inform you that the General Manager of this company has received cable advice from the London manager that a petition has been presented to the Court for an order to wind up the Canadian-Australian Steamship Company, and that thereafter the New Zealand Shipping Company will continue the service without interruption, in conjunction with the mortgagee. I am instructed to ask for your cordial co-operation in the meantime, and to request that no subsidies under the mail contract shall be paid until new arrangements are completed. I am, &c, Henry Eose, W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Local Manager. [See also Enclosure 2 in No. 134.]

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No. 197. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Local Manages, New Zealand Shipping Company, Wellington. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 18th January, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, stating that your company had received advice from London to the effect that a petition had been presented to the Court for an order to wind up the Canadian-Australian Steamship Company, and that in the event of this being decided upon the New Zealand Shipping Company would continue the service without interruption, in conjunction with the mortgagee. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. The Local Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Wellington.

No. 198. The Agent-General to the Hon. th Peemiee. (Telegram.) London, Bth February, 1898. Vancouvee service: Official Receiver asks me inform the New Zealand Government that, order having been made wind up Canadian-Australian Steamship Company, he has been provisionally appointed liquidator, and has appointed the New Zealand Shipping Company sole agents for New Zealand, with power, inter alia, receive subsidies from the New Zealand Government.

No. 199. The Geneeal Manages, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, to the Local Manages, Wellington. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 4th March, 1898. Infobm Mr. Gray London cables arrangements have been made release "Miowera" to sail about 6th instant. Continue booking passengers and cargo. No intention stopping service. Canadian Agent-General arranging pay subsidy liquidator. No cause for anxiety regarding continuation Vancouver service.

No. 200. The Geneeal Manageb, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, to the Local Manages, Wellington, [Exteact.] Christchurch, 13th March, 1898. On 10th instant London cabled us as follows : " Canadian-Australian Company legal formalities completed. Cowan is confirmed as liquidator. Eegular service will be now efficiently maintained. ' Aorangi' arrived sth instant; she averaged nearly fourteen knots per hour."

No. 201. The Geneeal Manages, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch, 10th May, 1898. Sic, — Canadian-Australian B.M.S. Company. We beg to advise you that we are in receipt of advices from Messrs. Burns, Philp, and Co. (Limited), managers of this company in New South Wales, as follows: "We are pleased to inform you that the Government in this colony have now agreed to pay us the subsidies due to the line under the contract made by Mr. James Huddart, and assigned by him to the Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company. We understand that the New Zealand Government will act similarly to New South Wales. Should this matter not be already arranged you might inform them that the Government of this colony is now paying the subsidies to us." We shall be glad to hear from you that your Government will take up a similar position with regard to this matter as that taken by the New South Wales Government. Yours, &c, W. Gray, Esq., Isaac Gibbs, Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. General Manager for Colonies.

No. 202. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Geneeal Managee, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch. Sis,— General Post Office, Wellington,"2lst May, 1898. I have the honour to enclose, for examination, rough statement showing the running and earnings of the Vancouver mail-steamers from the commencement of the service by the " Miowera "

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from Wellington for Vancouver, on the 11th December last, up to the arrival of that vessel from Vancouver at Wellington, on the sth instant. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. The General Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch.

No. 203. The Sbcebtabt, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Gbneeal Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch. Sir,— ■ General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd May, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, asking that the department might pay the subsidy in respect of the Vancouver mail-service to your company ; and, in reply, to inform you that, on the accounts being adjusted, your request will be acceded to. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. The General Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch.

No. 204. The General Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Sib,— Christchurch, 25th May, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 23rd instant intimating that the subsidy in respect to the Vancouver mail-service will be paid to this company on the accounts being adjusted. I beg to advise you that we have forwarded the statement to the Sydney agents—Messrs. Burns, Philp, and Co. —to be checked, and upon receipt of their reply I will communicate with you again. I have, &c, Isaac Gibbs, General Manager. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 205. The Bepresentative of the Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company (Limited), Wellington, 6th June, 1898. Sir, — Vancouver Mail-service. I have the honour to respectfully bring under your notice the following statement with reference to the Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company:— An account of the running and earnings of the Vancouver mail-steamers from the commencement of the service, on the 11th December, 1897, to the Bth April last, has been received from the Secretary to the Post Office Department, in which the sum of £928 has been deducted from the amount of subsidy payable under the contract for penalties incurred by the late departures of steamers from Wellington to Vancouver, and for their late arrival at Wellington from that port. Owing to the inability of the late management to provide for the disbursements of the Cana-dian-Australian Eoyal Mail Company at Sydney writs were issued against several of the steamers, and they were in consequence prevented from leaving that port on time-table date. For this reason the steamers were late in arriving at Vancouver, and could not be turned round again in time to take up the return voyage at the proper date, and so incurred penalties for late arrival at Wellington. In order to avoid a complete breakdown of the service the present management has had to advance or become security for something like £34,000 to get the steamers released and to keep them running. These debts, and the penalties which have resulted therefrom, are a legacy from the late managers of the Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, and I am instructed respectfully to ask your favourable consideration of the position, and trust that, under the circumstances, you will see your way to waive the penalties referred to. I may say that the Government of New South Wales has paid its subsidy in full without any deduction for penalties. Under the existing management the steamers are doing good work, and, with the exception of the unfortunate breakdown of machinery on board the " Miowera " at Sydney just before starting on her last voyage to Vancouver, which delayed her two days, they are running well within contract time, and I am authorised to assure you that no effort will be spared on the part of the Canadian-Australian Company to insure the successful running of the service in the future. In view of the great benefit to the colony of the Vancouver service, and of the many difficulties to be surmounted in its initiation, we earnestly trust you will not enforce the penalties referred to above. I have, &c, Isaac Gibbs, For Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company (Limited). The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

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No. 206. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to. the General Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company, Wellington (representing the Canadian-Australian E.M.S. Company). Biß,— General Post Office, Wellington, 11th June, 1898. I have the honour, by direction, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, requesting that the penalties incurred by the late departures and arrival from and at Wellington of certain of the Canadian-Australian Boyal Mail Steamship Company's mail-contract steamers might be waived. In reply, I am to inform you that the Postmaster-General has decided meanwhile to pay the earnings of the steamers less the penalties incurred, and to consider later on whether these penalties shall or shall not be enforced. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. The General Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch. Approximate. Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,500 copies), £32 18s. 6d. By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9B. Price, lα. t

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