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No. 113. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 24th December, 1907. I have the honour to forward herewith copy of a letter from your Auckland manager of the 27th ultimo, together with a copy of the reply of the Chief Postmaster, Auckland, dated the 30th idem. It refers to the detention of the " Hauroto " at Auckland on the occasion of a despatch from that port of the mails via Vancouver. It appears to me that the remedy for the trouble brought under notice in this correspondence, for which in reality nothing is to be blamed but shortness of time, is to despatch the steamer from New Plymouth in time to catch the 8.15 train at Onehunga for Auckland. I should be obliged if you would inquire and see whether an effort cannot be made to do this, or, failing this, whether the departure of the Vancouver steamer from Auckland cannot be postponed until 1.30 p.m. The third alternative is to close mails in the south for despatch via Vancouver a day earlier than at present; but such a course is very seriously to be deprecated, and I feel sure that you would prefer to obviate it if possible. I shall be obliged for a reply at your convenience. I have, &c, W. R. Morris, for Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. [P.O. 07/3392.]

No. 114. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin, 15th January, 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ultimo, and in reply beg to state that we are now in correspondence with our Auckland manager, and hope to arrange for the connecting steamer from Auckland with the Vancouver mail to sail at 2 p.m., which will give sufficient time for the transhipment of the southern mails. I have, &c, D. A. Aiken, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. For General Manager. [P.O. 07/3392.] [Acknowledged 21st January, 1908.]

No. 115. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir,— Dunedin, 6th February, 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge due receipt of your letter of the 21st ultimo with reference to the despatch of the steamer from Auckland to Fiji, by which the New Zealand mails go forward to connect with the Vancouver mail-steamer. The subject has been discussed with our Auckland manager, and it is arranged that the steamer will not leave Auckland earlier than 2 p.m. unless on rare occasions when, as occurred in November, special circumstances call for an earlier departure, in which case the Chief Postmaster at Auckland will be notified as early as possible. I may mention that, with the exception of the November departure referred to above, steamers have not left Auckland for some time back before 4 p.m. I have, &c, R. McK. McLennan, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. For General Manager. [P.O. 08/561.]