V.-—3.

Je vous exprime, en meme temps, mes vifs regrets de ne pas pouvoir accorder votre demande d'admettre sans taxe les lettres provenant de votre colonie et affranchies dun penny par 15 grammes. Cc serait, a mon avis, contraire aux dispositions de I'Article set de I'Article 10 de la Convention Prineipale et ne manquerait pas de soulever de la part dv public de mon pays dcs propositions tendant a reduire aussi le port norvegien pour les lettres a destination de la Nouvelle-Zelande. Agreez, &c, A Monsieur le Maitre-General dcs Postes a Wellington. Karl Bbyn.

[Translation.] In reply to your letter of the 23rd November last, in which you informed me of the desire of your colony to introduce penny postage in the relations between Norway and New Zealand, I have the honour to inform you that I regret my inability at present to recommend my Administration to form a restricted union on the subject between our two countries. I would express my great regret at the same time that I am unable to accede to your request to admit without surcharge letters from your colony prepaid Id. per half-ounce. This would, in my opinion, be contrary to the provisions of Articles 5 and 10 of the Principal Convention, and would not fail to raise on the part of the public of my country proposals for the reduction of the charge for the carriage from Norway of letters addressed to New Zealand.

No. 121. The Director-General of Posts, St. Petersburg, to- the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Monsieur,— St. Petersburg, le 3-16 Mars, 1901. En reponse a votre lettre due 23 Novembre, 1900, concernant la taxe reduite de l'affranchissement dcs lettres expediees a destination de l'etranger, j'ai l'honneur de vous informer que mon office regrette de ne pouvoir se rallier a votre proposition, et croit que les questions que vous soulevez doivent etre soumises a l'approbation dv prochain Congres Postal Universel. Agreez, &c, Sevastiarceff. Monsieur le Maitre-General dcs Postes de la Nouvelle-Zelande a Wellington.

[Translation.] In reply to your letter of the 23rd November, 1900, respecting the reduced charge for the prepayment of letters forwarded to foreign countries, 1 have the honour to inform you that my office regrets its inability to agree to your proposition, and considers that the question raised should be submitted for the approval of the next Universal Postal Congress.

No. 122. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Postmaster-General, Alexandria. (Telegram.) Wellington, Bth March, 1901. Grateful for your letter thirty-first January. Kindly fix first April.

No. 123. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Hon. the Minister of Posts, Borne. (Telegram.) Wellington, Bth March, 1901. Eeconnaissant de votre lettre 21 Janvier. Veuillez introduire premier Avril.

[Translation.] Obliged for your letter 21st January. Kindly introduce first April.

No. 124. The Director-General of Posts, Eome, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Monsieur le Directeur-General, — Eome, le 13 Mars, 1901. Me referant a votre telegramme dv 8. courant ainsi con9U : " Eeconnaissant de votre lettre 21 Janvier veuil lez introduire premier Avril; " j'ai l'honneur de vous informer que je viens de dormer dcs instructions aux bureaux italiens afin qua partir de la date indiquee les correspondances de la Nouvelle-Zelande en Italic avec l'affranchissment reduit de 1 penny par port de 15 grammes, soient delivrees sans surtaxe.

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