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No. 244. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Agent-Genebal. Sib, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 24th November, 1898. Referring to correspondence between your office and the General Post Office, London [not printed], in connection with the time of delivery of Vancouver mails in New Zealand, as compared with the previous week's Federal mail, I have the honour to inform you that the Post-master-General is in receipt of a letter from the Secretary of the Imperial Post Office [see No. 229], asking for a continuation of the table appearing on page 14 of the annual report of the Post and Telegraph Department of New Zealand for the year 1897, showing the number of days occupied in the delivery of mails between London and New Zealand ports by the Federal service. The table has been supplied as requested. As it is no doubt asked for in connection with the despatch of letters by way of Australia instead of by way of Vancouver, I have thought it advisable to forward you a copy of the table [not printed] for your information. The figures shown in red ink are in addition to those supplied to London, and indicate the time of despatch from London of the Vancouver mails, and their arrival in New Zealand. I have, &c, A. J. Cadman, for the Premier. The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 245. The Geneeal Supebintendent, Canadian Pacific Railway Company, Vancouver, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Canadian Pacific Railway Company, Office of the General Superintendent, Deab Sic, — Vancouver, 8.C., 26th November, 1898. On the 11th instant I received the enclosed communication from Mr. R. L. Martin, New Zealand Mail-agent on board R.M.S. " Aorangi," and I wrote informing him that, Moose Jaw being beyond the limits of my jurisdiction, his letter had been referred to our manager at Winnipeg, and said there would not be time to get a reply before sailing-date of the steamer. lam now in receipt of a letter from the manager, in which he asks me to explain the impossibility of taking any action on the lines suggested in the enclosed report. The delay to the train referred to at Moose Jaw is necessary for the loading of mails and baggage, and for the making-up of the train to go south. It is stated that this cannot be avoided without imposing a delay on our Atlantic express, which is a more important train, and, as the distance from Moose Jaw to Pasqua is less than seven miles, the possibility of delay to the Australian mails on this account is practically nil. I have, &c, R. Maepole, General Superintendent. The Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington, New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 245. The New Zealand Mail-agent to the Geneeal Teaffic Managee, Canadian Pacific Railway, Vancouver, B.C. Marine Post Office, R.M.S. "Aorangi," Vancouver, Sic,— 11th November, 1898. I have the honour to enclose an extract from a letter from Mr. H. S. Smith, Resident Agent for New Zealand in San Francisco [No. 27, F.-6a, 1898], who recently travelled over the mail route between Vancouver and New York to ascertain where the delays to the homeward Australian mails were occurring. I shall be glad if you will advise me as to the feasibility of Mr. Smith's suggestion, and to have your views on the proposal to accelerate the departure of the Soo train from Moose Jaw. Trusting that you may be able to supply the information before the departure of the " Aorangi " on the 17th instant. I have, &c, R. L. Maetin, New Zealand Mail-agent. The General Traffic Manager, C.P. Railway, Vancouver, B.C.

No. 246. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Peemiee. (Teregram.) London, 3rd December, 1898. Notwithstanding New Zealand representations, Imperial Post Office sending correspondence hitherto kept for Vancouver by Federal mail-service on 25th November. Secondly, I recommend Postal Department sending Vancouver correspondence so as to satch American line from New York to Southampton.