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express the hope that the way may be seen towards materially reducing the latter, and thus affording substantial relief to this Colony, the one principally concerned in the maintenance of the San Francisco service. Action in this direction would undoubtedly directly conduce towards the continuance of a service which has at present the support, notwithstanding the disadvantages of excessive charges and a rival route, of a large section of the mercantile community of this country, whose wishes the Postmaster-General is in every way himself disposed to second. The Resolution I now submit, bespeaking for it your most earnest consideration, is effectually the same as that passed by the same body at its meeting in Brisbane, Queensland, last year. I beg the favour of a reply at your earliest convenience. I have, &c. J G. WARD, President. John M. Toucey, Esq., John Newell, Esq. General Manager, New York General Manager, Lake Shore Central Railroad, New York and Michigan Southern City Railroad, Cleveland, Ohio. A. N Towne, Esq., General Manager, General Manager, Southern Chicago and North-Western Pacific Co., 4th and Town- Railroad, Chicago, 111. send-streets, San Francisco, Joseph Wood, Esq., Cal. General Manager, PennsylE. Dickinson, Esq., vania Line, Pittsburgh, General Manager, Union Perm. Pacific Co., Omaha, Nebraska.

The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. San Francisco, California, Sir, 31st May, 1894. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 17th April, enclosing communications for the managers of the various railroads engaged in the transportation of the New Zealand mails from San Francisco to New York. ####### I have also thought it advisable to accompany these letters with a communication (a copy of which is enclosed), in an endeavour to make rather a more prominent stress on the matter of competition with the Canadian Pacific, because I consider that will be our greatest leverage to accomplish the object sought. In response to these communications I have only received one reply the others doubtless have been forwarded direct to New Zealand. The communication received (now enclosed) is from the General Manager of the Southern Pacific Company, whose headquarters are in this city From this communication you will abserve that that Company is of the opinion that nothing can be done in the direction of reduction of transit charges except through the United States Government. The question of identity of mail-matter is, of course, one which is not of any importance, as all Australian mails have an entirely distinct exterior to those originating in the United States. I have, &c. H. STEPHEN SON SMITH, Resident Agent. W Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, N.Z.

Enclosure 1 The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the General Manager? of United States Railway Companies. San Francisco, California, I2tli May, 1894. Sir, Bγ direction of my Government, I have the honor to enclose for your information a communication from the President of the Intercolonial Postal Convention, held at Wellington, New Zealand, in April last, with enclosures, having reference to the question of the reduction in transit charges for the conveyance of the British mail tirom Australia to the United Kingdom and return. The difference in transit charges, as shown by the enclosed papers, is most marked, and it is sincerely to be hoped that you may see your way to make a concession, in order to strengthen the hands of the New