F.—3.

As suggested by you, the British nomenclature "Protectorate of the Niger Coast" and the " Niger Territory " will be adopted in including these places in the list of countries accepting letters from New Zealand at the reduced tariff. I have, &c, The Director, International Bureau of the Universal W. Gbay, Secretary. Postal Union, Berne.

No. 171. The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — General Post Office, Sydney, 18th November, 1901. Referring to your communication of the 6th instant regarding the remark made in an article from the Sydney Daily I'elegra-ph, published in a New Zealand paper, that I had stated that it would seem, from a paragraph which appeared in that paper on the 9th February last, that the New Zealand authorities intended paying any deficient postage on New Zealand letters for Australia, but no official intimation to that effect had been received from your Department, I have the honour to forward herewith a copy of my letter in which that statement was made, as well as one of the newspaper paragraph referred to. I have, &c, J. Dalgarno, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. . Deputy Postmaster-General.

Enclosure 1 in No.' 171. The Deputy Postmaster-Genekal, Sydney, to the Editor, Daily Telegraph, Sydney. Sir,— General Post Office, Sydney, 16th May, 1901. With reference to the surcharge of 2d. made on a letter posted in New Zealand bearing a Id. postage-stamp only, addressed to Mrs. Hugh McKenzie, 6, Douglas Street, Waterloo, and readdressed to Marsh Street, Arncliffe, the cover of which was submitted by Mr. Nail of your office, I have the honour to inform you that the correct amount of postage on letters from New Zealand to Australia is 2d. per half-ounce, and this Department was advised by the New Zealand Post Office in February last that instructions had been given to its officers to see that all letters posted in that colony to places in Australia were so prepaid prior to their despatch. As, however, such action was not taken in respect to the letter under notice, the surcharge of 2d. was imposed. Regarding the statement that it was understood the New Zealand Department would pay any deficient postage on New Zealand letters for Australia, I may state that it would seem, from a paragraph which appeared in your paper on the 9th February last, that the authorities there intended to do so, but no official intimation to that effect has been received by this Department. I have, &c, J. Dalgarno, The Editor, Daily Telegraph, Sydney. Deputy Postmaster-General.

Enclosure 2 in No. 171. [Extract from Sydney Daily Telegraph, 9th February, 1901.] Wellington, Friday. Postal and Telegraphic Proposals. Speaking with regard to the penny postage, Mr. Seddon said if the States of Australia follow their present course of surcharging penny letters there is nothing to prevent the authorities here seeing that all letters are fully stamped before they leave. The cost will be only the ink and paper upon which the stamps are printed. Of course, the stamps would have to be accounted for, but a vote could be passed by Parliament to meet that. This course would be preferable to allowing individuals to whom letters are sent being penalised in the manner indicated, although, of course, it would be infinitely better if avoided. The existing practice was not in accordance with the Federal spirit which he had found prevailing throughout Australia. * * * * * *

No. 172. The Director, International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union, Berne, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Monsieur le Postmaster-Geneeal, — Berne, le i Deeembre, 1901. En reponse a la lettre dv 21 Mai dernier, par laquelle vous avez bien voulu me faire connaitre que la taxe d'affranchissement dcs lettres de la Nouvelle-Zelande pour le Eoyaume-Uni, pour un certain nombre de colonies et protectorate britanniques et pour les pays suivants : Chili, Costa Eica, Egypte, Italic, Mexique, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Perou, Portugal et colonies portugaises,

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