43

F.—2.

therefore, is likely to be in favour of maintaining the San Francisco service on a more permanent footing, and with better postal speed ; and as this must of necessity be decided one way or the other in the next few weeks, then will be the opportune moment for settling not only the future apportionment, but the date from which it ought in equity to take effect. My Government would very sincerely regret if anything could lead to the idea that they are unmindful of the very generous treatment extended to New Zealand by your department and the Treasury. On the contrary, the very circumstances which had from year to year made temporary makeshifts necessary only served to bring out more strongly their sense of the patience and considerate manner in which their repeated importunities were received. I am, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office. F. D. Bell.

No. 108. The Hon. the Peemieb to the Agent-Geneeal, London. Sir,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 21st July, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th May last, enclosing copy of the reply from the Imperial Post Office to your letter of the 11th idem, on the subject of dating back the apportionment of postage. I share your satisfaction at the tone of the reply. You will already perhaps have taken action on my letter of the 28th May (vide No. 63, F.-4, 1891), informing you that the Government intends to ask Parliament to renew the San Francisco service for three years. I have, &c, J. Ballance. Sir F. D. Bell, K.C.M.G., C.8., Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 109. The Hon. the Peemieb to the Agent-Geneeal, London. Sic,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 23rd July, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th ultimo, with further reference to the claim of the Imperial Post Office to date back the apportionment for the San Francisco mail-service, and enclosing a copy of your reply to the Secretary, General Post Office, which has been read with much interest and satisfaction. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. J. Ballance.

No. 110. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Peemiee, Wellington. (Telegram.) London, 24th October, 1891. . . . Thirdly, with reference to Postmaster-General's, 16th February, Imperial Post Office consents not date back Frisco apportionment.

No. 111. The Hon. A. J. Cadman to the Agent-Geneeal, London. Sir,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 30th October, 1891. In reference to that portion of your telegram of the 24th instant which runs as follows : — " With reference to Postmaster-General's, 16th February, Imperial Post Office consents not date back San Francisco apportionment " —I have to express my satisfaction at the settlement of this question of the apportionment in favour of the colony, and to congratulate you on the success of your efforts to that end. I have, &c, A. J. Cadman, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. In the absence of the Premier.

No. 112. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, London, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, "Wellington. Sic,— General Post Office, London, 26th October, 1891. With reference to your letter of the 16th February last, on the question of dating back the apportionment arrived at in 1889 of the cost of the New Zealand mail-service via San Francisco, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to inform you that this question has formed the subject of correspondence between this department and Sir Francis Bell, and has had to be submitted afresh to the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, whose decision has just been received. Having regard to all the circumstances urged by Sir Francis Bell on behalf of New Zealand, the Treasury are pleased to decide that, the new apportionment having been in force since the Ist October, the application of it to the preceding year shall not be pressed further. I am, &c, H. BuXTON FoBMAN, The Postmaster-General, Wellington. For the Secretary.