F.—3.

No. 151. The Directok-General of Posts, Christiania, to the Hon. the Postmaster-Geneeal, Wellington. Sir, — Direction General of Posts, Christiania, Norway, 25th June, 1901. In reply to your letter of the 2nd May last, I have the honour to inform you that my Administration, after having reconsidered the matter, cannot accept penny letters from New Zealand without surtax as long as the greater part of the European countries has not agreed to consider your penny letters as fully prepaid. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, New Zealand. Karl Beyn.

No. 152. The Inspectoe-General of Posts and Telegraphs, Batavia, to the Hon. the PostmasterGeneeal, Wellington. Service dcs Postes et dcs Telegraphes aux Indes Orientales Neerlandaises, Batavia, le 26 Juin, 1901. Monsieur le Dieecteue-Geneeal, — J'ai 1' honneur de vous accuser reception de votre lettre dv 23 Novembre dernier, par laquelle vous proposez d'introduire une taxe moderee de dix centimes par 15 grammes, pour les lettres echangees entre la Colonie de la Nouvelle-Zelande et celle dcs Indes Orientales Neerlandaises. En reponse je m'empresse de vous informer que mon Administration, ayant etc appelee a la revision generale dcs taxes postales dcs Indes Orientales Neerlandaises, vient de soumettre a l'appreciation de son Gouvernement la proposition de reduire toutes les taxes applicables aux lettres et autres objects postaux, echanges dans les relations tant internes qu'internationales de cette colonie. Avant d'examiner votre proposition qu'une Union plus restreinte soit etablie entre nos deux colonies aux termes de l'Article 21 de la Convention principale de Washington, il convient, comme il parait, d'attendre jusqua cc que l'autorite superieure a la Haye veuille bien se declarer au sujet de la proposition de moderer generalement les taxes postales dcs Indes Orientales Neerlandaises. Veuillez agreer, &c, L'lnspecteur-General, A Monsieur le Directeur-General dcs Postes et dcs Telegraphes . de la Nouvelle-Zelande a Wellington.

[Tbanslation.] I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 23rd November last, in which you propose introducing a reduced charge of 10 centimes per 15 grammes for letters exchanged between the Colony of New Zealand and the Dutch East Indies. In reply, I hasten to inform you that my Administration, having been called upon to undertake the general revision of the postal charges of the Dutch East Indies, has just submitted for the approval of its Government the proposition to reduce all charges applicable to letters and other Pose Office articles exchanged in the internal as well as the international relations of this colony. Before examining your proposal that a more restricted union be established between our two colonies, in terms of Article 21 of the Principal Convention of Washington, it would seem best to wait until the superior authorities at the Hague have come to a decision on the proposition for generally reducing the postal charges of the Dutch East Indies.

No. 153. The Hon* the Postmaster-Geneeal, Wellington, to the Director-General of Posts, Belgrade. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 3rd July, 1901. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th April last, agreeing to the interchange between our respective countries of letters prepaid at the rate of Id. per halfounce, or 10 centimes per 15 grammes. I am much gratified by your prompt and courteous action, which will materially asist towards the consummation of the universal penny-postage scheme. I have, &c. The Director-General of Posts, Belgrade, Servia. J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General.

No. 154. The Directoe, International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union, Berne, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Monsietje le Postmaster-General, — Berne, le 8 Juiliet, 1901 Par lettre dv 21 Mai dernier, vous avez bien voulu me faire connaitre, entre autres, que la taxe d'affranchissement dcs lettres de la Nouvelle-Zelande pour le Eoyaume-Uni, pour un certain nombre de colonies et protectorats britanniques et pour les pays suivants: Chili, Costa-Bica,

7—F, 3.

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