F.—6.

56

No. 189. The Hon. the Pbemieb, Wellington, to the Hon. the Pbemieb, Ottawa. Sib,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 29th March, 1899. Adverting to my letter of the 17th instant, I have now the honour to inform you that the Canadian-Australian Boyal Mail Steamship Company has decided to abandon Wellington as a port of call in favour of Brisbane, the service with New Zealand ending with the departure of the " Aorangi" to-morrow, and the arrival of the " Miowera "on the Ist proximo from Vancouver. The company, I regret to say, gave no notice of its intention to withdraw from the New Zealand running until a contract shutting out this colony had been entered into with Queensland, and a promise secured from New South Wales to renew its subsidy for four years. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Premier, Ottawa, Canada. B. J. Seddon.

No. 190. The Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Ottawa. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, 29th March, 1899. I have the honour to confirm my telegram of 20th instant, advising that the mailrservice hitherto subsisting between Wellington and Vancouver would not be renewed after the end of this month, and that the steamer leaving Wellington on the 30th instant would carry the last outward despatch, and that from Vancouver, due in Wellington on the Ist proximo, the last inward mail. It is proposed to make use of the new service, Sydney-Brisbane-Vancouver, by forwarding mails vid Sydney if the time-table is found to be suitable. The through time will be about thirty days from Wellington to Vancouver vid Sydney and Brisbane. I take the opportunity to convey the thanks of this department for the attention paid by you and your officers to the speedy transportation of the New Zealand mails through Canada, and for the courtesy shown to the Mail-agents attached to my staff. I have, &c, W. Geay, for the Postmaster-General. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Ottawa, Canada.

No. 191. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Colonial Postmasteb, Suva. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 29th March, 1899. I have the honour to advise you that the mail-service hitherto subsisting between Wellington and Vancouver will not be renewed after the end of this month. The steamer leaving Wellington on the 30th instant will carry the last outward despatch, and that from Vancouver, due in Wellington on the Ist proximo, the last inward mail. I have, <fee, The Colonial Postmaster, Suva, Fiji. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 192. The Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 29th March, 1899. What are Sydney dates departure and arrival Vancouver steamers under new time-table ?

No. 193. The Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 29th March, 1899. New time-table not yet fixed, but probably day of steamers' departure from Sydney will be Tuesday in lieu of the previous Saturday. Mails leaving overland for Brisbane on Wednesday.

No. 194. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Sydney. Sib,— Wellington, 29th March, 1899. Beferring to the cessation of the running of the steamers between Wellington and Vancouver after this month, I have the honour to ask that you will be so good as to forward me by an early mail copy of the time-table of the new service from Sydney to Vancouver by way of Brisbane.. I assume that it may be understood that the system of forwarding parcels for Canada through your office, which was in existence before the steamers commenced to call at Wellington, may be