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No. 303. ;•' ' ;"./;" I ";'; 1i1 The Seceetaey, Wellington Harbour Board, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sic,— Wellington, 30th January, 1899. I have to acknowledge yours of the 11th January on the subject of the working of cargo out of the Vancouver mail-steamers on Sundays. The whole of the correspondence was considered by the Board very carefully at its meeting on Thursday last, when a decision was arrived at that they would adhere to their previous conclusion as contained in the reply already sent to the New; Zealand Shipping Company ; (Limited), to the effect that they were advised that working on the wharf on Sunday is illegal under the Police Offences Act, and that they are therefore powerless in the matter I may, however, inform you for your information that the feeling of the members of the Board was practically unanimous against any Sunday work in connection with the Vancouver mailservice, or in any other respect, except that which is an absolute w°rk of necessity, and that the impression left on my mind is that, even if the Government in the ensiling session of Parliament modify the Police Offences Act so as to legalise Sunday work, the Board would be unwilling to modify their by-laws. It is, however, quite competent for the Government to pass a Bill making it compulsory upon the Board to receive cargo on Sundays, if they deem that course to be desirable. ' ' ; : Thanking you for the information forwarded in your letters, I have, &c, William Feeguson, Secretary. The Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington, New Zealand.

No. 304. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Geneeal Manages for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 2nd February, 1899. Adverting to your letter of the 14th December last, asking for the assistance of the Post-master-General in obtaining permission of the Commissioner of Customs and of the Wellington Harbour Board to work the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail steamers on Sunday when necessary, I have the honour to inform you that the Harbour Board was urged to grant the concession desired, but I regret that it will not afford facilities for discharging the steamers on Sunday beyond agreeing to the transfer of the cargo to a hulk in the stream. The Customs Department would raise no difficulty were the Board to amend its by-laws. I have, &c, The General Manager for the Colonies, W. Geay, Secretary. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch.

No. 305. The Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Postal and Electric Telegraph Department, General Post Office, Sydney, Sic,— 6th February, 1899. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 28th ultimo, intimating that the by-laws of the Harbour Board at Wellington prevent steamers discharging cargo at the wharf on Sunday, and to thank you for the efforts made by your department in connection with the matter. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, Deputy Postmaster-General. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

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By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB99.

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