F.—6

8

mails connect with at New York ; (5) the day and hour at which steamers leave New York, and whether they sail for Queenstown or Southampton ; (6) the average time occupied by steamers in crossing the Atlantic. You might also be able to obtain for me similar information regarding mails conveyed via Vancouver. I; have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. [P.O. 09/4193(3).]

No. 17. The Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, 21st October, 1909. With reference to your communication of the Ist February last [No. -17, F.-6, 1909], asking that you be furnished with a return showing the weight of (1) letters and post-cards and (2) other articles despatched from Australian offices during the month of May, 1!")!). to connect with the mailcontract steamers from Wellington to San Francisco via Tahiti, I have the honour to inform you that the following is the information desired by you :—

I may add that the particulars in respect of mails from Western Australia have been included in those shown opposite New South Wales, as direct mails are not made up by the former State for San Francisco. I have, &c, Robt. T. Scott, Secretary. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

[Read here No. 74, Vancouver Service.]

No. 18. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 15th November, 1909. Referring to former correspondence [No. 54, F.-6, 1909] on the subject of the transit rates payable for Australian mails for America and beyond forwarded by the Tahiti route, I beg to inform you that this office is claiming from the Commonwealth on your behalf full transit rates for the service from Wellington to San Francisco. The Commonwealth will no doubt make its own arrangements with you for the transit from Sydney to Wellington. I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 19. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — Resident Agency for New Zealand, San Francisco, 20th November, 1909. 1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 15th ultimo, making inquiries in respect of many details in connection with the transmission of the European mails via this port. These are somewhat difficult to answer as so much depends upon the arrival at this

Net Weights. Letters and Post- Other Articles cards. (exclusive of Parcels). New South Wales Victoria Queensland South Australia .. Western Australia Tasmania lb. oz. lb. oz. 85 0 1,169 0 74 12 1,560 0 20 4£ 189 3 14 1 188 0 Nil Nil 4 15 88 1 199 0J 3,194 4