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that " the homeward mail-steamers from New York are not under the control of this department, but the records of this office show that the ' Aurania' was detained by fog in New York Harbour from the 24th to the 26th May." I have, &c, The General Manager for the Colonies, W. Geay, Secretary. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch.

No. 237. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sic, — Resident Agency for New Zealand, San Francisco, 14th November, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your communication of the 3rd ultimo [No. 6, F.-6b, 1898], in reference to the employment of the R.M.S. " Moana" on the route vid Honolulu. lam advised that the R.M.S. " Aorangi " did not arrive at Vancouver until Friday. Upon receipt of this information I at once communicated with New York with a view of securing a connection with the White Star steamer appointed to leave on Wednesday morning. This connection I was enabled to secure, and the mails left per " Cymric " on Wednesday last, which saved a delay until the departure of the Cunard steamer on Saturday following. I would again point out the importance of my being informed by the Vancouver Mail-agent by wire of the day and hour of the east-bound mails from Vancouver. In the case in point, had I not wired to Vancouver for the information regarding the departure of the mails, they in all probability would not have connected with the White Star boat, only twenty-five minutes being allowed for the transfer, provided the express is on time. * * * I have, &c, ..... H. Stephenson Smith, Resident Agent. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 238. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Peemiee. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sic,— 16th November, 1898. Referring to your letter of the 13th September [No. 14, F.-6b, 1898], I beg to state that, so far as I am informed, and which the Resident Agent for the colony in San Francisco confirms, the New York Post Office authorities are fully alive to the importance of despatching our mails from New York by the earliest and swiftest steamers available. But the fixing of the dates of leaving New York is not within their power, but the dates are arranged by the owners of the steamers in order to meet the requirements of services other than that of the New Zealand mails. In view of the coming time for preparing a new time-table under the renewed services, I have requested Messrs. Cameron, of New York, to forward direct to the Postmaster-General at Wellington the latest sailing fixtures of the principal steam lines. Since the conclusion of the American-Spanish war the American line of steamers (the " St. Louis," " St. Paul," &c.) have recommenced running, and as a rule the mails vid San Francisco are forwarded by them. They arrive at Southampton, and as a rule are remarkably punctual; and I think that it would be an advantage if the Vancouver mails could be timed so that they could be sent from New York by these steamers. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Reeves.

No. 239. The Postmasteb, Vancouver, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Deae Sib, — Post Office, Vancouver, 8.C., 17th November, 1898. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd ultimo [No. 18, F.-6b, 1898], asking me to see the Canadian Pacific Railway authorities, and arrange, if possible, to have the present arrangement of having the mails for New Zealand from Great Britain forwarded here as received, stand, and would inform you that I have referred the same to Mr. Marpole, superintendent of this Hi vision of the railway company. Mr. Marpole informs me that he has referred the matter to the general manager at Winnipeg, a reply to which has not up to date been received. I might say, however, that the mails so far continue coming as formerly. I am, &c, W. Gray, Esq., Fbancis E. Haebison, Assistant Postmaster. Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, New Zealand.

No. 240. ' The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Ottawa. Snt— General Post Office, Wellington, 19th November, 1898. I have the honour to refer to a statement which appears in the annual report of the Postmaster-General, London, to the effect that the proposed fast mail-service to an<| from Canada,