53

V.— 6

connection with a proposal to arrange the landing of the through homeward mails vid Vancouver at Honolulu. The scheme, however, was in my judgment scarcely feasible. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Besident Agent. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington.

No. 178. The Hon. the Peemiee and Colonial Teeasubee, Sydney, to the Hon. the Peemiee, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 22nd March, 1899. Re my message of 17th : This Government has decided, subject to parliamentary approval, to renew Vancouver contract for four years from May next. Steamer to travel vid Brisbane or Wellington, at contractors' option.

No. 179. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Peemiee. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— 23rd March, 1899/ Beferring to your cablegram of the 12th instant, I beg to state that, at an interview which I had with Sir Edwyn Dawes, that gentleman stated that it was not intended to renew the contract for the mail-service between Vancouver and New Zealand. I attach copy of the correspondence, including that of my letter to the London Post Office, asking that arrangement be made by which the mails hitherto forwarded vid Vancouver shall be sent by the Federal mail-service, commencing with this week's mails. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

[For Enclosures 1 and 2 in No. 179 see Nos. 164 and 170.]

Enclosure 3 in No. 179. The Agent-Geneeal to Sir Edwyn Dawes. Deab Sic— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 18th March, 1899. I am directed by the Agent-General to inform you, with reference to his interview with you of yesterday, that he understands from you, as representing the parties concerned therein, that the contract for the mail-service between New Zealand and Vancouver, which expires on the 31st instant, will not be renewed, and that consequently other arrangements must be made for the transmission of the mails hitherto forwarded by that route, commencing from next week. Yours, &c, Waltee Kennaway. Sir Edwyn Dawes, K.C.M.G., 23, Great Winchester Street.

Enclosure 4 in No. 179. The Agent-Geneeal to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, London. Sic,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 18th March, 1899. I am directed by the Agent-General to inform you that he has received instructions from his Government to inform you that the contract for the mail-service between New Zealand and Vancouver, which expires on the 31st instant, will not be renewed, and in reference thereto to say that under these circumstances the Postmaster-General will no doubt arrange so that the letters, &c, hitherto sent from London vid Vancouver to New Zealand shall be forwarded by the Federal mail-service, commencing from the 25th instant. I am, &c, Waltee Kennaway. The Secretary, General Post Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand.

Enclosure 5 in No. 179. The Liquidatob, Canadian-Australian Boyal Mail Steamship Company, to the Agent-Genebal. Canadian-Australian Boyal Mail Steamship Company (Limited), Deab Sib,— 138, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C., 21st March, 1899. I am directed by Sir Edwyn Dawes to acknowledge receipt of your letter to him dated 18th instant, and to say that you are correct in understanding that the contract for the mailservice between New Zealand and Vancouver, which expires on the 31st instant, will not be renewed, and that consequently other arrangements must be made for the mails, commencing with that of Saturday, 25th instant. Yours, &c, Chas. J. Cowan, Liquidator. Walter Kennaway, Esq., C.M.G., Secretary to the Agent-General for New Zealand.