F.—6

No. 55.

The Acting-Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Post Office. Wellington. Sir, — Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, 15th September, 1909. In reply to your communication of the 30th July last [No. 104, F.-6, 1909], I have the honour to inform you that it has been ascertained that the cost of a special train from (1) Sydney to Melbourne and (2) Melbourne to Adelaide, for the conveyance of New Zealand mails for the United Kingdom and other places despatched from Wellington on Fridays and arriving at Sydney too late to connect with the express train to Melbourne, is as follows : — £ b. d. Sydney to Melbourne (582 miles) .. .. .. .. 218 5 0 Melbourne to Adelaide (483 miles) .. .. .. 181 2 6 Total cost .. .. .. .. .. 399 7 6 I have, &c, Justinian Oxenham, Acting-Secretary. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [Suez Conn. 09/103.]

No. 56. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department. Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 21st September, 1909. Would you kindly arrange that English letter-bags for Christchurch be sent by way of Auckland instead of Bluff if they can catch steamer leaving Sydney Wednesdays ? This in addition to mails for North Island usually sent via Auckland. Christchurch newspaper-bags to be sent via Bluff as heretofore. [P.O. 09/3522.]

No. 57. The Acting-Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department. Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — Postmaster-General's Department. Melbourne, 21st September, 1909. With reference to your telegram of to-day's date, I have the honour to inform you the Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney, has been instructed to make the necessary arrangements in the matter. I have. &c. Justinian Oxenham, Acting-Secretary. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 58. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd September, 1909. I have the honour to confirm my telegram of the 21st instant. The best despatch from Australia of the English mails for the various centres in New Zealand ising this Department at the present time ; and the provision I have asked you to be eood enough-to make seems to be the solution of the question of obviating awkward delay which has occasionally happened to the southern New Zealand correspondence. I have. &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. The Secretary. Post master-General's Department, Melbourne.

No. 59. The Secretary. General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 15th October, 1909. 1 have the honour to inform you that it is reported here that the time-table of mails to and from Australia by the Orient steamers is to be accelerated and altered. I should be obliged if you would, at your convenience, advise me when the new time-table is to come into force, and of the nature of the alterations. I have. &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. The Secretary. Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, [Suez Conn. 09/87.]

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