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F.—6a

No. 7. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. si: Sir, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 3rd July, 1899. : ; I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th May last, transmitting copy of correspondence with the Imperial Post Office respecting the proposal to establish a fortnightly mail-service vid San Francisco ; also a copy of an advertisement of the proposed sale of steamers, business, good-will, and property of the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company (Limited). , I note that you are of opinion that the assistance which may be expected to be given by the Imperial postal authorities to a fortnightly San Francisco service will not go beyond the Postal Union conditions and regulations. I have, &c, R. J. Seddon, Premier. . The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 8. < ■'■■ ■ The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 3rd July, 1899. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th ultimo, forwarding copy of a letter addressed to the Postmaster-General of your colony by the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, regarding a proposal in connection with the San Francisco mail-service to make Wellington the port of call in New Zealand, instead of Auckland. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. W. Gray, Secretary.

VANCOUVEE MAIL-SEEVICE. ALTERNATION WITH SUEZ ROUTE. SYDNEY-BRISBANE CONTRACTS. CALL AT FIJI. No. 9. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir,— General Post Office, London, 24th May, 1899. ,' With reference to your letter of the 23rd November last [see No. 242, F.-6, 1899], with which you were so good as to forward a table showing the number of days occupied in the transmission to Melbourne, Bluff, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland of mails despatched from this office and conveyed from Brindisi by the steamers of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company from the beginning of the year 1898 up to the end of September in that year, I am directed to state that the Postmaster-General would be much obliged if he could now be furnished with a similar table relative to the mails despatched from London after the 30th September ; and I am to add that a table of this kind would be of considerable use in this office if it could be sent at regular intervals —say, once a month. The value of the table would be enhanced if the actual hour at which mails are landed at the port of arrival in New Zealand could be stated. I am, &c, The Postmaster-General, Wellington. H. Buxton Forman.

No. 10. M The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Postal and Electric Telegraph Department, General Post Office, Sir— Sydney, 12th June, 1899. I am directed to enclose herewith a copy of the form of contract [not printed] which has been entered into by this department with Messrs. Burns, Philp, and Co. (Limited), of this city, for the conveyance of mails between Sydney and Vancouver—to take effect as from the 23rd ultimo. I have, &c, J. Dalgarnq, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. For Deputy Postmaster-General.

No. 11. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 26th June, 1899. Can you now advise me definitely whether Vancouver steamers are not to call at Fiji? [See No, 213, F.-6, 1899.]

No. 12. The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office,. Wellington, (Telegram.) Sydney, 26th June, 1899..: Not yet definitely decided to cease calling at Fiji. Next steamer will call there.