F.—6

46

I would also point out that this mail was sent from New York by the White Star s.s. " Majestic," which arrived at Queenstown at 3.7 p.m. on the 24th instant, whereas the s.s. " Deutschland," which left New York the day after the " Majestic," arrived at Plymouth at 3 p.m. on the 24th instant. Had the mail been sent by the " Deutschland " it would have been delivered in London at the latest on the morning of the 25th, which would have been an obvious advantage, more especially to those expecting remittances thereby. W. P. Reeves.

No. 156. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. (Telegram.) Wellington, 27th April, 1901. " Sierra's," " Ventura's " mails arrived London five days late. Not at all satisfactory. What caused delay?

No. 157. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) San Francisco, 28th April, 1901. Not having arrived in time here caused two days' detention New York. Thence slow passage.

No. 158. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. Gentlemen,— General Post Office, Wellington, 29th April, 1901. I have the honour to inform you that the Sydney Post Office advises that, according to a card time-table recently issued in Sydney by the agents of the Oceanic Steamship Company, the day of arrival in London of the mails vid San Francisco is altered from Saturday to Friday every three weeks. I shall be glad to know whether you have been advised of any alteration, as no notification has reached this office. I have, &c, Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, W. Gray, Secretary. Agents, Oceanic Steamship Company, Auckland.

No. 159. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 29th April, 1901. Referring.to my letter of the 4th February last, relative to the failure of our mails which reached New York on the 29th December last to make due train connection at Chicago, I have now to inform you that the Superintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington, explains that the failure was caused through the engine of the train conveying the mails becoming disabled after leaving Council Bluffs [No. 144]. The Superintendent expresses the opinion that the railroad company should not be held strictly accountable for the accident, and at the same time states that no effort will be spared to prevent detention in the United States service of the mails exchanged between Great Britain and Australasia vid the United States, but that in the long railway transit between New Xork and San Francisco delays will sometimes occur notwithstanding that every effort is made to obviate them. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco.

No. 160. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company, San Francisco. Gentlemen, General Post Office, Wellington, 29th April, 1901. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your cablegram of the 16th instant, asking that Mailagents might be instructed to furnish you with the weights of mail-matter on arrival at San Francisco, and, in reply, to inform you that the necessary directions have been issued. It should be understood, however, that the weights are to be subject to verification by this office. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. Messrs. the J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company, San Francisco.