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No. 75. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Postmaster, San Francisco. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 9th March, 1911. I have the honour to inform you that ths commander of the R.M.S. " Maitai " reports that the departure of his steamer from San Francisco for New Zealand has been delayed on two occasions for an hour in order that the mails from your office might b<? shipped. I should be obliged if you would look into ths matter with a view to preventing the necessity for this delay in future. It is much to be desired that, having shipped the English mails, for the carriage of which a substantial subsidy is paid under this Department's contract with the Union Steam Ship Company, the vessel should not be detained to await the shipping of other mails; and any arrangements you can make for securing this prompt despatch will be highly appreciated. I have, &c, The Postmaster, San Francisco, Cal. D. Robertson, Secretary. [Wn.-S.K 11/55.]

No. 76. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) San Francisco, 9th March, 1911. Mail-steamed arrived at San Francisco from New Zealand on Bth instant. Mail-steamer broke down, and her mails transferred to " Mariposa " 10th instant, connecting " Talune." Repairs will take about eight days. [S.F. Adviojs.] ____________________

No. 77. The Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir,— Post Office Department, Washington, 13th March, 1911. By direction of the Postmaster-General, I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 20th January, 1911, confirming your telegram of sth January, as follows [No. 55]. It is regretted that there is no record of the above-mentioned telegram having been received at this Department. I will at once, however, take any measures practicable to comply with your request, and shall advise you of the result. I have, &c, Joseph Stewart, Second Assistant Postmaster-General. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, New Zealand. [Wn.-S.F. 11/71-]

No. 78. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 15th March, 1911. In continuation of my letter of the 4th January last respecting the transit across America of mails for the United Kingdom despatched from New Zealand via San Francisco, I have the honour to inform you that the Post Office of the United States has taken up with the railway companies the matter of the hitch in the conveyance of the " Maitai's " mails between Chicago and New York, and that special attention will be given to securing the connection of New Zealand mails with steamers leaving New York. As a result of the action taken it is not expected that a similar case of delay will occur in future. I have, A-c, D. Robertson, Secretary. The General Manager. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. [Wn.-S.F. 11/63.] ___________________

No. 79. ' The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Commander, R.M.S "Maitai," Wellington. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 16Hi March, 1911. I have the honour to refer to that portion of your report of the 2nd instant, in which you represented that the departure of your steamer from San Frarcisco for New Zealand had been delayed on two occasions for an hour in order thai the mails from the San Francisco office might be shipped, and to inform you that the Postmaster, San Francisco, has been requested to look into the matter with a view to preventing the necessity for such delay in future. I have, iVc, D. Robertson, Secretary. The Commander, R.M.S. "Maitai." Wellington. fWn.-S.F. 11/55.1

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