51

F.—6,

No. 179. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir,— Dunedin, 17th October, 1900. I am in receipt of your favour of the 13th instant [No. 20], intimating that the Postmaster-General agrees to relieve us of our contract for the conveyance of mails to San Francisco, in accordance with our request. With regard to a connection with Sydney for the mails meantime, I have wired you that, as at present arranged, the "Waikare" is timed to leave Wellington on Wednesday, the 31st October, and reach Sydney early on Monday, the sth November, and shall be glad to know if this will be a sufficiently close connection with the Vancouver mail. It is, unfortunately, rather close behind the outward San Francisco mail. Under our summer time-table the " Monowai" will leave Wellington on Saturday, the 17th November, and the "Mokoia" on Saturday, the 24th. We would, however, endeavour to expedite the latter so as to leave Wellington on Friday, the 23rd, and reach Sydney Tuesday, the 27th, to connect with the outward Federal mail. This would involve some expense, as the " Mokoia " would have to arrive and leave Port Chalmers on Wednesday, the 21st, without coming to Dunedin, which would necessitate the railage of all her cargo inwards and outwards, probably £200. I presume, as this will represent actual outlay on our part, and, on the other hand, go into the coffers of the State, your department will allow us that amount if this course is decided upon. Yours, &c, James Mills, Managing Director. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 180. The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Wellington, 30th October, 1900. The council of this Chamber desires to again urge upon the Government the desirableness of making arrangements with existing lines of steamers to provide for a fortnightly service to Sydney so timed as to connect with the mails leaving that port vid Brindisi for the United Kingdom. Such a service would have the recommendation that it would be carried entirely under the British flag, and that the subsidy would go to the encouragement of a colonial industry. It would, moreover, meet the requirements of the greater part of the colony much better than the proposed new San Francisco service, which has been arranged primarily with a view to American interests, and under a time-table highly inconvenient to New Zealand. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. S. Carroll, Secretary.

No. 181. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, Bth November, 1900. Referring to previous correspondence on the subject of the acceleration of the " Monowai's " time-table [not printed, but see No. 179], to allow her to leave here on the 16th instant with the mails to connect with the Federal steamer leaving Sydney on the 20th idem, I have now the honour to inform you that the Postmaster-General has agreed to the payment of £200 for the service. I have, &c, The Managing Director, W. Gray, Secretary. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 182. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir, — Dunedin, 13th November, 1900. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the Bth instant, and am pleased to learn that the Postmaster-General has agreed to the payment of £200 for the acceleration of the " Monowai's " time-table, to allow her to leave Wellington on the 16th instant with the mails to connect with the Federal mails leaving Sydney on the 20th. I have, &c, T. W. Whitson, for Managing Director, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.