F.—3.

relations with all the countries of the union. As long as the present charges remain in force in the exchange between European countries the Hungarian office is not able to agree to a reduction in the charges for correspondence to be exchanged with any country outside Europe. It regrets, therefore, not being able to accept the proposition either in respect of reciprocal exchanges or in regard to letters from New Zealand for Hungary. Italy. The Italian Administration has notified to the New Zealand office that it cannot accept the proposition to reduce to 10 centimes per 15 grammes the charge on letters originating in Italy for New Zealand, as the exigencies of the Italian Treasury are opposed to such a course, but, on the other hand, it sees no objection to letters from New Zealand for Italy prepaid at Id! per single rate being delivered to addressees without surcharge. Switzerland. The Swiss Administration has informed the New Zealand office that it is prepared to deliver without surcharge, until further advised, letters from that country prepaid at the rate of Id. per 15 grammes, on condition that they reach the Swiss service without any indorsement designating them as insufficiently prepaid.

No. 155. The Dibectob-Genebal of Posts and Telegeaphs, St. Petersburg, to the Hon. the PostmasterGenbbal, Wellington. Monsieue le Dibecteue-General,— St. Petersbourg, le 28 Juin (11 Juillet), 1901. En reponse a votre lettre dv 17 Mai, j'ai l'honneur de vous informer que mon office maintient son opinion premiere emise par ma lettre dv 3 Mars de cette anee. Veuillez agreer, &c, Pour le Directeur-General, Monsieur le Directeur-General dcs Postes de la Nouvelle-Zelande a Wellington.

[Teanslation.] In reply to your letter of 17th May, I have the honour to inform you that my office maintains its first opinion enunciated in my letter of 3rd March of this year.

No. 156. The Dieector-Genebal of Posts, Stockholm, to the Hon. the Postmastbe-Gbneeal, Wellington. Direction Generale dcs Postes, Stockholm, le 12 Juillet, 1901 Monsieue le Postmasteb-Genebal,' — En reponse a la lettre rappelee en marge concernant votre proposition d'introduire le tariff modere de 1 penny (10 centimes) par port simple pour les lettres echangees entre nos deux pays, et apres nouyel examen de l'affaire, j'ai l'honneur de vous informer que mon Administration nest toujours pas a meme d'accepter votre proposition mentionnee ni non plus de satisfaire a votre demande de faire delivrer aux destinataires suedois sans taxe les lettres originaires de la NouvelleZelande et affranchies seulement 1 penny par une demi-once. En me referant, a cc sujet, aux motifs allegues dans la lettre de mon Administration dv 29 Mars dernier, j'ajoute qu'il donnerait sans doute lieu a dv mecontentement chez les correspondants suedois, si les lettres de la Nouvelle-Zelande a destination de la Suede pouvaient etre affranchies seulement a raison de 10 centimes par 15 grammes, tandis que les lettres de la direction contraire seraient soumises a la taxe ordinaire de 25 centimes par 15 grammes. Veuillez agreer, &c, Pour le Directeur-General dcs Postes en son absence, Axel Husbeeg. A Monsieur le Postmaster-General de la Nouvelle-Zelande, Wellington.

[Teanslation.] In reply to your letter mentioned in the margin, respecting your proposal to introduce the reduced charge of Id. (10 centimes per 15 grammes) for letters exchanged between our two countries and after a thorough examination of the question, I have the honour to inform you that my Administration is still unable to accept your proposal mentioned above, or to accede to your request to deliver to Swedish addressees without surcharge letters originating in New Zealand and prepaid only Id. per half-ounce. In referring to the reasons given in the letter of my Administration of the 29th March last I may add that it would doubtless cause discontent to Swedish correspondents if letters from New Zealand addressed to Sweden could be prepaid at the rate of 10 centimes per 15 grammes while those in the opposite direction were subject to the ordinary charge of 25 centimes Der 15 grammes. v

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