3

F.—6

SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE,

NEW ZEALAND-RAROTONGA-TAHITI -SAN FRANCISCO ROUTE.

[Read here Nos. 1, 2, 4, 22, and 23, F.-6a, 1910.]

No. 1. The Genebai, Manager, Union Steam Ship Company (at Wellington), to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir, — Wellington, sth August, 1910. With reference to my memo, of 3rd instant [No. 4, F.-6a, 1910] with regard to the proposed San Francisco service, it may be well to emphasize one point I referred to —viz., the drawback involved in making the terminus in New Zealand, and endeavouring to maintain the service by two ships. The extra cost of making Wellington a terminal port will be apparent when I mention that the two ships are estimated to take about 34,000 tons of coal per annum in Wellington, the price of which in bunkers at 18s. 6d. will be more than £16,000 above what it would cost to bunker the ships in Sydney. The question of docking and other charges will also be on the expensive side, as they will have to proceed to Lyttelton for the purpose, involving two to three days out of eight that the ship will have at this end. As a matter of fact, the financial prospects of the proposal are by no means bright, but we believe there is a trade to be worked up, and are anxious that a New Zealand company should initiate the service, and that it should not be left to tramps or other steamers owned elsew r here to occupy the ground. The subsidy we ask is under all the circumstances a modest one, and for thirteen trips is a small one indeed as compared with the subsidy now given for ten trips a year to Papeete. As I have already pointed out, there is no chance of getting assistance from America, but if our proposals are accepted we ehall probably ask you to arrange with the American Postal Department so that we may have full advantage of Postal Union rates on mail-matter from America, which we count on bringing in several thousands'per annum I have, A-c, The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, K.C.M.G., Wellington. C. Holdsworth. [Wn.-S.F. 10/18.] _^^_^___^^^^^^^_

[Read here Nos. 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, F.-Ga, 1910.]

No. 2. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa. (Telegram.) Wellington, 29th August, 1910. Four-weekly through service Auckland - Rarotonga - Papeete - San Francisco, returning same ports to Wellington. Steamers " Aorangi," "Maitai." Commences departure Auckland twentysecond October, first departure San Francisco sixteenth November. Superseding present Welling-ton-Papeete service. Time New Zealand-San Ftancisco twenty-one days. [Wn.-S.F. 10/40.] _______^^______

[Read here Nos. 14 and 15, F.-6a, 1910.]

No. 3. The President, Chamber of Commerce, Auckland, to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. (Telegram.) Auckland, 29th August, 1910. Re mail proposals :My Chamber to-day unanimously carried the following resolutions. Generally proposals are considered anything but satisfactory, therefore trust you will see way clear to adopt, for reasons given, the suggestions of Auckland Chan ber : — (1.) That this Chamber strongly disapproves of the proposed mail contract t'-o-n New 7ealand via Rarotonga and Papeete to San Francisco, which in its opinion is unsuitable, and for the