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No. 14. The Hon. the Pbemieb to the Agent-General. Renewal of San Francisco Mail Service. Sic,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 13th December, 1894. I have the honour to confirm my telegram to you of the Ist instant [not printed], advising that arrangements had been made on existing terms for a renewal of the San Francisco mail-service contract for three years, subject to the New South Wales Government continuing its contribution of four thousand pounds (£4,000) a year, and that the present time-table would be adhered to. The contractors have since expressed a desire to negotiate for shortening the time between Auckland and San Francisco by one day, and they have been requested to make a definite proposal to the Government. I enclose copy of the time-table for 1894-95. I have, &c, Sir Westby B. Perceval, K.C.M.G., Agent-General for A. J Cadman, New Zealand, London. For the Premier.

No 15. The Seoeetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmasteb-Genebal. Sydney. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, 17th December, 1894. As already advised in my telegram of the 23rd ultimo, the Postmaster-General has arranged for the renewal of the San Francisco mail-service contract for three years on existing terms and under the present time-table running, contingent, however, on your Government contributing four thousand pounds (£4,000) yearly The contractors expressed their inability to shorten the time of delivery unless paid a larger subsidy They were prepared, however, to reduce the time between Auckland and Sydney and San Francisco by one day, and they have now been requested to state what additional payment they require for such a service. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney W Gray, Secretary

No. 16. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dieectoe, Union Steam Ship Company. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 18th December, 1894. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 3rd instant, agreeing to renew the San Francisco mail-service-contract for three years on existing terms, subject, however, to the New South Wales Government continuing its payment of £4,000 yearly, and. stating that although your company could not undertake, without increased payment, to perform the service between Auckland and San Francisco under twenty days, it was prepared to negotiate for shortening the running time by a day I have now to confirm my telegram of the 7th instant, inquiring what additional subsidy your company would require for a nineteen days' service between San Francisco and Auckland. I have, &c, The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company W Gray, Secretary of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 17. The Managing Dieectoe, Union Steam Ship Company, to the Seoebtaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sic, — Dunedin, 17th December, 1894. I duly received your telegrams of the 4th and 7th December, inquiring in re port of call in New Zealand of San Francisco mail-steamers, and what additional payment would be required to accelerate the present service by one day In reply to the first, I have the honour to advise you that the directors think it inadvisable to make any change m the port of call at present, and they therefore propose that the mail steamers shall continue to call at Auckland as hitherto. With regard to shortening the time occupied on the voyage between Auckland and San Francisco, I cannot give you a definite reply at the present moment, as I would first desire to communicate with the Oceanic Steamship Company, who are associated with us in carrying out the contract. To shorten the time by one day would necessitate an average speed of fourteen knots, and to insure this would mean not only the steamers burning more coal, but running with lighter loads, which would leave them unable to reap the full advantage of the cheap coal they now procure in Sydney I roughly estimate that at least £15,000 per annum would be required in addition to the present mail payment to accelerate the service by one day. I have, &c, W Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, James Mills, Wellington. Managing Director