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No. 179. The Hon. the Postmastee-Genebal, Wellington, to Mr. J. Hennikee Heaton, M.P., London. (Telegram.) Wellington, 24th April, 1902. Commonwealth Australia now agrees admit New Zealand letters prepaid penny rate, and from other parts Empire.

No. 180. Schedule to Oedeb in Council dated the 28th Apeil, 1902. Letters and Letter-cards. The prepaid rates of postage on letters and letter-cards posted in New Zealand for Australia are Id. for each half-ounce or fraction thereof.

No. 181. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington. Sic, — Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 28th April, 1902. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your cablegram advising that New Zealand letters prepaid at the penny rate will now be admitted by the Australian Commonwealth. The announcement to this effect which has appeared in the newspapers of this country has been made the subject of much favourable notice. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

No. 182. The Hon. the Postmasteb-General, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 30th April, 1902. Oue Order in Council fixing penny letter-rate to Commonwealth Australia has been issued.

No. 183. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Sbcketaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, 6th May, 1902. 1 have the honour to forward herewith copy of an Order in Council published in the New Zealand Gazette of the 28th ultimo, authorising the despatch of letters and letter-cards from New Zealand to Australia at Id. per half-ounce or fraction thereof. The Postmaster-General of this colony highly appreciates the action on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia in agreeing to accept without surcharge New Zealand letters prepaid at the above-mentioned rate. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. The Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne.

No. 184. The Sbcbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to Mr. E. F. Black, Cedar Rapids, Nebraska, U.S.A. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 4th June, 1902. I have to acknowledge, by direction, the receipt of your letter of the 26th April last [not printed], and to inform you, in reply, that the charge made on the delivery in your country of letters posted in New Zealand prepaid at the rate of Id. per half-ounce is, I regret to say, owing to the United States Post Office not having yet decided to accept New Zealand penny letters without surcharge. Mexico, on the other hand, has agreed to the reduced postage rate, hence the apparent anomaly. I enclose herewith, for your information, a list of places the Postal Administrations of which have agreed to deliver without surcharge letters from this colony prepaid Id. per half-ounce. Yours, &c, E. F. Black, Esq., Cedar Eapids, Nebraska, U.S.A. W. Gbay, Secretary.

No. 185. Translation of Letter from Mr. Joseph Wanka, Imperial House Councillor, Prague, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington, 12th June, 1902. Accobding to newspaper reports Your Postal Administration is pursuing a further lowering of letter rates in the international tariff.

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