F.—2,

44

No. 113. Mr. Geay to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, London. Sib, — General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd December, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th October, communicating the decision of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury not to press further the application of the new apportionment of the cost of the San Francisco service to the year 1889-90. I am much obliged for your communication, and request that you will be so good as to convey to their Lordships my acknowledgments of their considerate treatment of this question. I have, &c, W. Gbay, The Secretary, General Post Office, London. For the Postmaster-General.

No. 114. The Acting Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Peemieb, Wellington. Sib,— 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 29th October, 1891. Eeferring to Sir F. D. Bell's letter of the 11th June last, I beg leave to transmit herewith copy of letter received from the General Post Office, stating that Her Majesty's Government have decided not to date the application of the mail-service apportionment made last year further back than the Ist October, 1890. I attach copy of telegram, in which I conveyed to you the above-mentioned decision. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Waltee Kennaway.

Enclosure in No. 114. The Seoeetaby, General Post Office, London, to the Acting Agent-Genebal. Sib,— General Post Office, 23rd October, 1891. With reference to Sir Francis Bell's letter of the 4th June last, and to previous correspondence, in which there was a friendly controversy between himself and this department on the question of dating back the apportionment of the cost of the New Zealand mail-service via San Francisco under the Treasury award of the 28th September, 1889, I am directed by the Post-master-General to inform you that the question has been submitted 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, as the new apportionment has been in force since the Ist October, 1890, the application of it to the preceding year shall not be pressed further. I am, &c, Walter Kennaway, Esq., C.M.G. Edwaed H. Eea.

No. 115. The Hon. W. P. Beeves to the Agent-Genebal, London. Sib, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 22nd December, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Kennaway's letter of the 29th October, enclosing copy of that of the 23rd idem from the Imperial Post Office, stating that Her Majesty's Government had decided not to date the application of the mail-service apportionment made last year further back than the Ist October, 1890, together with copy of his telegram to the same effect. The London Post Office has also made that communication direct to the Postmaster-General, and has been requested to convey his thanks to the Imperial Treasury for its action. I shall be glad if you will do the same for the Government. I have to express my thanks for what your office has done in this matter; and Sir Francis Bell has been apprised of the result. I have, &c, W. P. Beeves, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. For the Premier.

No. 116. The Hon. J. G. Waed to Sir F. D. Bell, K.C.M.G., Wellington. Sib, — General Post Office, Wellington, 14th January, 1892. I have the honour to communicate with you in reference to the correspondence which as Agent-General you carried on with the Imperial authorities relative to dating back the apportionment of the cost of the San Francisco service. By the last mail information was received from the Acting Agent-General that the Treasury had decided not to date the apportionment further back than the Ist October, 1890. You will no doubt be interested and pleased to hear of this decision, which it is acknowledged is mainly due to your able advocacy on behalf of the colony. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General. Sir F. D. Bell, K.C.M.G., C.8., Wellington.