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the mail vid San Francisco; but I cannot imagine that these miss-sent letters have been sufficiently numerous to give rise to complaint on the part of the New Zealand office; and, in the opinion of this department, such letters, having accidentally missed the mail for which they were intended, have, with the view of avoiding further delay, been properly forwarded by the most advantageous means, and ought to be so forwarded if a similar circumstance should again occur. I have not failed to caution the despatching officers against sending any other letters for New Zealand via Brindisi, unless specially addressed to be forwarded by that route. I have, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G-. S. A. Blackwood.

No. 3. Mr. Geay to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, London. Sie,— General Post Office, Wellington, 19th June, 1880. I regret to have to inform you that, during the months of April and May last, a considerable amount of correspondence, particulars of which are shown hereunder, was received in New Zealand by way of Brindisi, which was distinctly marked in some cases "via San Erancisco," and in others "vid Melbourne" per Orient steamers, but in the majority of cases was not marked for transmission by any particular route.

The correspondence had been sent in the Brindisi mails contrary to the repeated requests of this department and the understanding which has hitherto existed, by which only correspondence specially so addressed has been sent via Southampton or Brindisi. As this proceeding has involved the New Zealand Post Office in serious loss, owing to the heavy payments which it has to make to Victoria for all letters sent or received via Brindisi, while continuing to bear the full cost of the transport of its mails via San Erancisco, the Postmaster-General considers that he has a fair claim for the re-imburse-ment of such loss. A statement of the amount due to this department on this account will be forwarded to you with as little delay as possible. The Postmaster-General has, by telegraph, requested the Agent-General for New Zealand to communicate with you on the subject, and to urge the necessity for immediate steps being taken to stop a practice which has been the cause of serious inconvenience to the public in this colony I have, &c, W Geay, The Secretary, General Post Office, London. (for the Postmaster-General,)

No. _. Mr. Geay to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, London, Sie,— General Post Office, Wellington, Bth July, 1880. Adverting to my letter of the 19th ultimo, I have now the honor to forward you a further statement of correspondence received in this colony by way of Brindisi, which should uot have been despatched by that route: —

I have, &c, W Geay, The Secretary, General Post Office, London. (for the Postmaster-General.)

No. 5. Mr. E. H. Rea to the Postmastee-Geneeae. Sib, — General Post Office, London, 12th August, 1880. I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th June last, informing me that many letters, &c, for New Zealand not specially addressed by Brindisi are being sent by that route. I had already received a communication from the Agent-General for New Zealand on this subject, and have caused it to be inquired into. lam assured by the despatching officers that, as a rule, only

Letters. Books. Newspapers. No. Weight. No. Weight. No. Weight. lb. 4 OZ. 7i ' 2 lb. 49 oz. 5 lb. 198 oz. II 247 145 1,152

Letters. Books. Newspapers. No. Weight. No. Weight. No. Weight. 330 lb. 10 oz. 61 lb. 25 - oz. 3 961 lb. 190 oz. 13 57