13

F.—6

In the present instance the delay will not be serious, as the mail will doubtless go by the " Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse " on Tuesday, and be delivered in London on the following Monday night or Tuesday morning, whereas had the "Etruria" or the "St. Louis" waited for it either would hardly have delivered it in London in time for Saturday night's delivery. It would therefore remain in the London Post Office until Monday morning. Yours, &c, Veenon H. Bbown. H. Stephenson'Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco.

Enclosure 2 in No. 50. The Agents, Cunard Steamship Company, New York, to the Resident Agent fob New Zealand, San Francisco. The Cunard Steamship Company (Limited), 29, Broadway, New York, Deab Sib,— 26th February, 1904. We are in receipt of your telegram—viz., " Our mail due New York Saturday 1.30. Any chance to connect?" We had previously been in communication with the Post Office, and had stated to them that if the mail were not further delayed between Chicago and New York the " Campania " would wait for it. Should it arrive as expected it would still take an hour later to get the mail to the ship, which would delay her departure until about 3 o'clock, which is as late as we would deem it prudent to sail on account of the tide. The ship's appointed sailing is 12 o'clock noon, and that of the American liner " Philadelphia " 9.30 a.m. Yours, &c, Veenon H. Beown. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco.

No. 51. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent foe New Zealand, San Francisco. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, 3rd March, 1904. I have the honour to refer to the time-table which you were good enough to send me under cover of your letter of the Ist January, 1901. You will find it on page 36 of Paper F.-6, 1901. That time-table has proved of considerable use ; and if you could now send me another in the same form, showing the despatch of mails both ways across the United States, I should be much obliged. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco.

No. 52. Messrs. Hendeeson and Macfaelane, Auckland, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company (American and Australian Line), Sic,— Auckland, Bth March, 1904. We have the honour to quote from a letter dated the 13th ultimo forwarded by the Resident Agent for New Zealand in San Francisco to Messrs. the J. D. Spreckels and Bros. Company : " Information having been received by me from the Southern Pacific Railroad Company to the effect that it it not anticipated that the through mails from Great Britain to the Australian Colonies, in the course of transit from New York, can reach this city until 7.30 p.m. this day, I therefore have the honour to request that, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract now existing between the New Zealand Government and the Oceanic Steamship Company, you will be good enough to postpone the sailing of the s.s. ' Ventura,' now at this port, until such time as a connection can be made by the belated overland express conveying said mails." In view of the above order, and in accordance with the terms of clause 9 in the existing contract, we have now the honour to make a pro formd claim on your Government for £110, reDresenting a detention at San Francisco of thirty-four hours at £5 per hour, less credit of twelve hours at £5 per hour. Would you kindly acknowlege receipt of this pro formd claim pending our communication with the J. D. Spreckels and Bros. Company for instructions in re collection ? Thanking you in advance, We have, &c, Hendeeson and Macfaelane, General Agents for New Zealand. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.