F.—3.

Moreover, I may remark that, considering the depreciation of the currency admitted for prepayment of these charges in the relation to the " franc currency," our present international tariff, including therein the maritime surcharge of 5 centavos per 15 grammes, is one of the lowest in the union. However, I have pleasure in informing you that to-day I am issuing the necessary instructions to my officers to in future consider as duly prepaid letters from New Zealand for Chili bearing postage at the rate of Id. per half-ounce.

No. 102. The Administeatob-Genebal of Posts, Mexico, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Gbnbbal, Wellington. Administration Generale dcs Postes, Mexico, le 19 Janvier, 1901. Monsieur l , Administbateue-Genebal, — Me referant a votre lettre dv 23 Novembre dernier, par laquelle vous avez bien voulu proposer cette Administration gen6rale la conclusion dune Convention pour la reduction dv port pour la correspondance provenante dv Mexique a destination de la Nouvelle-Zelande, j'ai l'honneur de vous informe qu' ayant etudie l'affaire, et en vue de cc que le mouvement de correspondance entre le Mexique et la Nouvelle-Zelande a peu d'importance, je ne trouve pas, pour le moment, necessaire la Convention dont il s'agit. Eespectivement a la partie finale de votre lettre precise, j'ai l'honneur de vous informer que mon Administration gen6rale n'a pas d'inconvenient a delivrer aux destinaires, sans taxe, les lettres provenantes de la Nouvelle-Zelande et affranchies dun penny par 15 grammes. Veuillez agreer, &c, L'Administrateur-General, Monsieur l'Administrateur dcs Postes, Wellington.

[Translation.] In reply to your letter of the 23rd November last, in which you were good enough to propose to this General Administration the conclusion of a convention for the reduction of postage on correspondence from Mexico addressed to New Zealand, I have the honour to inform you that, having gone into the question, and in view of the fact that the volume of correspondence between Mexico and New Zealand is not large, I do not deem such a convention necessary at present. Eespecting the conclusion of your letter, I have the honour to inform you that my General Administration does not see any objection to deliver to addressees, without surcharge, letters originating in New Zealand and prepaid at the rate of Id. per half-ounce.

No. 103. The Directob-Geneeal of Posts and Telegbaphs, Managua, to the Hon. the PostmastebGenebal, Wellington. Direction General dcs Postes et dcs Telegraphes de La Eepublique de Nicaragua, Monsieub, — Managua, le 19 Janvier, 1901. J'ai' l'honneur d'accuser reception de votre lettre dv 23 Novembre dernier me proposant la reciprocity de la part de mon Administration pour l'etablissement dans la NouvelleZelande dv " penny tarif " (tarif de 10 centimes par 15 grammes) pour les lettres a destination de tousles pays. En reponse, j'ai l'honneur de vous informer que le tarif dcs lettres ne pouvant se reduire pour le moment, mon office doit se limiter a faire delivrer aux destinataires, sans taxe, les lettres provenant de votre colonie et affranchies dun penny par 15 grammes. Veuillez agreer, &c, Le Secretaire, J. Mercedes Fonseca. Monsieur le Directeur-General dcs Postes, de la Nouvelle-Zelande, Wellington.

[Translation.] I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd November last, in which you propose reciprocity on the part of my Administration for the establishment of penny postage with New Zealand (tariff of 10 centimes per 15 grammes) for letters to all countries. In reply, I have the honour to inform you that the letter tariff cannot be reduced just at present, ana my office must therefore confine itself to delivery to addressees without surcharge of letters from your colony prepaid at Id. per half-ounce.

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