49

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No. 154. The Geneeal Managhb for the Colonies, New -Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 4th March, 1899. Have cabled Sydney urging immediate decision re route. Will inform you soon as we hear.

No. 155. The Geneeal Manages for the Colonies, New Zealand" Shipping Company, Christchurch, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 6th March, 1899. Sydney agents cable expect New South Wales Executive Council will give definite reply re their intentions to-morrow.

No. 156. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Geneeal Manages for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch. (Telegram.) Wellington, Bth March, 1899. Have you yet heard from Sydney re Vancouver service ?

No. 157. The Geneeal Manages for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Christcharch, Bth March, 1899. Nothing yet from Sydney. Will cable this afternoon if no news by then.

No. 158. The Geneeal Managee for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 9th March, 1899. Sydney agents cable meeting Executive Council postponed until next week. Impossible obtain decision before then.

No. 159. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Geneeal Managee for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch. (Telegram.) Wellington, 9th March, 1899. As there is every reason to suppose that your people have already decided not to renew the Vancouver service with New Zealand, reply should not be further delayed, especially if " Warrimoo " is not to return vid Wellington. You should again cable your Sydney people for an immediate and definite reply.

No. 160. The Geneeal Manages for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch, 9th March, 1899. Canadian-Australian Mail Service. . We very much regret the delay which is taking place in getting a definite reply from the Sydney-managers of this service as to whether they intend abandoning the route to Vancouver vid New Zealand. We recognise the great inconvenience which this delay causes your department. Messrs. Burns, Philp, and Co., of Sydney, having been appointed by the liquidator of the Canadian-Australian Steamship Company as managers for Australasia, are bound to do all in their power to further the interests of their principals, and there is no doubt that, should they succeed in getting the subsidies which they hope to obtain from the Queensland and New South Wales Governments, it will be much better business for that company than anything likely to be got by calling at this colony. Unfortunately the decision of the Queensland Government seems to depend upon that of the Executive Council of New South Wales, which Council appears to have had two meetings without settling the matter, and has now postponed the consideration of the business until next week. We are convinced that it is quite useless expecting any decided answer from Messrs. Burns, Philp, and Co. until that decision has been given. We advised the Premier of New Zealand on the 31st October that it was not likely that the Canadian-Australian Steamship Company would agree to continue the service on a yearly contract, and we cannot see that any blame can now attach to that company for seeking elsewhere advantages which the New Zealand Government refuses to give it. Should the Government of New South Wales confirm the action of the Premier of that colony, the position on the 31st instant will be this: The "Aorangi" leaving Wellington on the 30th

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