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No. 13. The Hon. the Pobtmastbe-Genbeal, Washington, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Genebal, Wellington. Office of the Postmaster-General, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C., Sib,— 18th August, 1900. In acknowledging the receipt of your telegram of the 17th instant in the words following —viz., "New Zealand introduces universal penny post first January, befitting commemoration new century. Hope you reciprocate " —permit me to congratulate your Administration upon its action, which, it seems to me, is a step forward in the march of progress now being made by the postal administrations of the world. I have, &c, G. Emoey Smith. The Postmaster-General, Wellington, New Zealand.

No. 14. The Postmasteb-Geheeal, Singapore, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Geneeal, Wellington. Sib, — General Post Office, Singapore, 19th August, 1900. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram in the following words : " New Zealand introduces universal penny postage first January, befitting commemoration new century. Confident your reciprocating, I send greeting on forging another link in chain of Empire." I congratulate your Administration on the adoption of the proposed measure, and cordially reciprocate the sentiments expressed by you. This colony , will gladly extend penny postage to letters for New Zealand from the date mentioned. I have, &c, N. Tbotteb, The Hon. the Postmaster-General of New Zealand. Postmaster-General.

No. 15. The Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington, to the Eight Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, London. (Telegram.) Wellington, 20th August, 1900. Univeesal, not Imperial. No arrangement Australia, but hope fall in. Assume you reciprocate. New Zealand outside federated Australia. Berne advised, asked consider favourably.

No. 16. The Dieectoe-Geneeal of Posts, Simla, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington. (Telegram.) Simla, 20th August, 1900. Heabty congratulations on New Zealand joining Imperial penny postage. India fully prepared reciprocate. No link more enduring than cheapened communication by post.

No. 17. The Hon. the Postmasteb-Geneeal, Brisbane, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Geneeal, Wellington. (Telegram.) Brisbane, 20th August, 1900. Youb wire seventeenth, penny post: Matter so far this colony concerned one for consideration Federal Government.

No. 18. [Jjitraot from Parliamentary Debates, No. 17, 21st August, 1900, page 109.] House op Eepbesentatives. Penny Postal Bate. Mr. Wabd (Postmaster-General) said the establishment of penny postage from the Ist January next applied to all places outside the colony that would agree to our sending letters at Id., as well as within the colony. There appeared to be some slight misapprehension in the minds of some people concerning the position. He would like to say that the legislation passed in 1891 applied to within the colony only, as under the Postal Act authority existed for the Governor in Council to vary postage-rates beyond the colony, and the penny postage could be put into operation beyond the colony whenever the Government elected to do so. The legislation of that year, therefore, applied to within the colony only. What the Government intended to do now, however, was to establish on the Ist January next a penny postage within the Imperial dominions, and to all places which would allow the colony to send letters to them at the penny rate. For the information of the House he might say the Postmaster-General, London, had cabled to him asking if it was intended to adopt Imperial penny postage, and he replied that it was intended to do so. Again, the Postmaster-General of Pietermaritzburg had telegraphed his very hearty congratulations, and

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