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No. 279. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Geneeal Manages for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, 17th September, 1898. I have the honour, by direction, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, asking that, as the Canadian and New South Wales Governments have paid the full amounts of subsidy to the Canadian-Australian R.M.S. Company, the amounts deducted by this department by way of penalty might be remitted. In reply, I am to say that the matter will receive consideration. I have, &c, The General Manager for the Colonies, W. Geay, Secretary. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchuch.

No. 280. The Geneeal Manages for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch, Sic,— 3rd May, 1899. Referring to your letter of the 17th September last, I have now the honour to again respectfully apply for the remission of the penalties deducted from the subsidy paid by you to the Canadian-Australian line, and I trust that you will now see your way to refund the amount. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Isaac Gibbs, General Manager.

No. 281. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Geneeal Manages for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, 19th June, 1899. With reference to your letter of the 3rd ultimo, and previous correspondence, on the subject of the penalties incurred by the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company, I have now the honour to inform you that the Postmaster-General regrets he does not see his way to remit the penalties. I have, &c, The General Manager for the Colonies, W. Geay, Secretary. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch.

INTEECOLONIAL SEEVICE CONNECTING WITH FEDEEAL SEEYICE.

No. 282. Mr. J. Duthie, M.H.R., to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Sic,— Wellington, 11th April, 1899. While the colony's British postal requirements were being fully met by a fortnightly service vid America, little attention was generally given to the dates of despatch to connect via Suez. It appears, however, that the overland mail now closes at Sydney every Tuesday, and, since the quickest despatch to catch it for probably two-thirds of New Zealand is the direct steamer from Wellington, it becomes very important that this service should be altered to close here every Thursday in place of Saturday, as at present. The matter will no doubt always have had your attention, and the alteration is not urgent for this or the following week, since there will be the outward San Francisco mail on Saturday first; but I would be glad to learn, for the information of the community, what arrangements are being made to make the best of the Australian route in the immediate future for both inward and outward mails while there is, as now, only a monthly American service. Yours, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Jno. Duthie.

No. 283. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to Mr. J. Duthie, M.H.R., Wellington. General Post Office, Wellington, 11th April, 1899. Sic, — Despatch of Homeward New Zealand Mails by Suez Service. I have the honour, by direction, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter on the abovenoted subject. The matter is receiving consideration, and a reply will be sent at an early date. I have, ifec, John Duthie, Esq., M.H.R., Wellington. W. Geay, Secretary.