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No. 189. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Wellington. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, Ist December, 1900. I have the honour to refer to your letter of the 30th October last, in which you convey the representations of your council that it would be desirable to make arrangements with existing lines of steamers to provide for a fortnightly service to Sydney to connect with mail-steamers leaving that port vid Brindisi for the United .Kingdom. In reply, the Hon. Mr. Ward directs me to say that the matter of mail-conveyance has not been lost sight of so far as the Government is concerned. I have, &c, Thomas Rose, for the Secretary. The Secretary, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Wellington.

No. 190. The Secretary to Conference of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce, Christchurch, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, 28th January, 1901. I am directed to forward the following resolutions which were carried at the conference of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce recently held in Christchurch, and to respectfully request your favourable consideration of the same : — "That, in the opinion of this conference of Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, it is desirable —(1) That improved and extended postal facilities be provided between this colony and Europe and America; (2) that in all postal contracts preference be given to services carried on under the British flag; (3) that with this view the Government be urged to endeavour to arrange for (a) a monthly mail-service between New Zealand and Vancouver, and (b) a weekly mail-service between New Zealand and Australia timed to catch the regular weekly service between Australia and Europe vid Brindisi." I have, &c, H. Antill Adley, Secretary to Conference. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

No. 191. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary to Conference of the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce, Christchurch. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 31st January, 1901. I have the honour, by direction, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th instant, forwarding resolutions passed at the recent meeting of the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce at Christchurch with reference to mail-service communication between New Zealand, America, and Europe. A reply will be sent at an early date. I have, &c, H. Antill Adley, Esq., W. Gray, Secretary. Secretary to Conference of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce, Christchurch.

No. 192. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 11th April, 1901. I have the honour, by direction, to refer to your letter of the 22nd August last to the Hon. the Premier, asking whether Government was prepared, in conjunction with Canada and Australia, to offer a sufficient subsidy to justify the building of seventeen-knot steamers for a service between Vancouver, New Zealand, and Australia, and to ask that your company will be so good as to state what subsidy would be required from this colony for the establishing of the proposed service, and how many steamers would be run. lam also to inquire whether the vessels Would call at New Zealand, and, if so, which port your company would suggest. The information desired is necessary before the Government can properly deal with the proposal. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. The General Manager for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch.

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