I\—2

1881. NEW ZEALAND.

SUEZ MAIL SERVICE (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO). [In continuation of Papers presented on 28th May, 1880.]

Presented to loth Souses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Agent-Geneeal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 2nd June, 1880. * * * Many letters without special address being sent Brindisi. Make protest. Vogel, London. _________„ Hall.

No. 2. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeae. Sie, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 16th June, 1880. Referring to the Hon. the Premier's telegram of the 2nd instant (copy herewith), intimating that many letters without special addresses were being sent via Brindisi, instead of via San Francisco* and instructing me to make a protest against such a proceeding, I have the honor to transmit copy of letter which I addressed to the Secretary to the General Post Office, to which the reply, copy of which I also attach, has been received. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 2. The Agent-Geneeal to the Seceetaey, Imperial Post Office. Sib, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., Bth June, 1880. I have the honor to inform you that I have received a telegram from the Government of New Zealand, informing me that many letters, not specially addressed by Brindisi, are being sent by that route, and instructing me strongly to protest against a continuance of such a practice. As you are aware, it has been arranged that all letters unaddressed by special route are to go by San Erancisco. The great cost of the latter route to the New Zealand Government makes this necessary to its pecuniary protection, besides that, it is the quickest route, and that no exception can be taken to its admirable regularity I have therefore to ask you to renew the instructions that all letters, unless otherwise denoted, are to go by San Francisco, and to take the necessary measures to secure the observance of such instructions. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Julius Vogel, St. Martin's-le-Grand. Agent-General for New Zealand.

Enclosure 2 in No. 2. Mr. S. A. Blackwood to the Agent-Geneeal. Sie, — General Post Office, London, 15th June, 1880. I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth instant, informing me that you have received a telegram from the Government of New Zealand to the effect that manv letters not specially addressed by Brindisi are being sent by that route, and instructing you strongly to protest against a continuance of such a practice. I have made inquiries on this subject, but have failed to discover what has given rise to this complaint, as I am assured by the despatching officers that, as a rule, only letters specially addressed to be forwarded by way of Brindisi have been sent in the mails for New Zealand by that route. Exceptionally, however, provincial letters have been sent in the mails via Brindisi when it has happened that, instead of being sent directly to Dublin, they have been miss-sent to London, and have thus missed I—F. 2.