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No. 54. The Seceetaet, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, Ist August, 1913. In reference to the arrival at Vancouver on the 24th ultimo, two days late, of the R.M.S. " Makura " on the voyage commenced at Auckland on the sth idem, I have the honour to point out that if the vessel had left Auckland at the schedule time —viz., 3 p.m. on the 4th ultimo—it would no doubt have reached Vancouver a day earlier. I shall be glad to be informed whether it was expected that the vessel would reach Vancouver on the due date, although it left Auckland twenty-one hours late. I have, <tc, W. R. Morris, Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. [ Vane. Misc. 13/66.]

No. 55. The Canadian Trade Commissioner, Auckland, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Department of Trade and Commerce, Canada, Trade Commissioner Service, Sir, — Auckland, New Zealand, Ist August, 1913. I had the honour of writing you on the 10th July, and supplementing that letter by one dated the 11th July, with regard to the irregular sailing of the Vancouver mail-boats from this port. I have not yet been favoured with a reply. The " Niagara," which arrived here early this morning, and whose sailing-date, according to the arrangements made between myself, acting for the Canadian Postal authorities, and Sir Joseph Ward, Postmaster-General at that time, is 3 o'clock to-day, will not leave here until 12 o'clock to-morrow. This morning's paper contains the information under Mail Notices that the mail will close at 10.30 a.m. to-morrow, and the boat is assumed to sail at noon. You must see how very unsatisfactory this is, that the sailing of a mail-steamer should be at the caprice of the contractor. The Canadian Government, I know, would consent to any changed sailing-date which would be convenient to the New Zealand Postal authorities, but as matters are at present the chief parties to the contract do not appear to be consulted at all, and the position is a particularly unsatisfactory one as it stands. It seems to me that there should be a fixed sailing-date for these mail-ships, and if they cannot sail at the time indicated and arranged by the Governments who pay the subsidy, then they must be here in sufficient time to leave promptly. I hope this matter will receive your attention at once, and I think the Union Company should be notified that there must be a fixed date to be agreed upon by the Governments, and that the boat must sail promptly at the hour arranged. I have, &c, W. A. Beddoe, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Canadian Trade Commissioner. [Vane. Misc. 13/68.] ______________™.

No. 56. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Canadian Trade Commissioner, Auckland. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, sth August, 1913. I have the honour, by direction, to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 10th and 11th ultimo and Ist instant in reference to the time of departure from Auckland of the mail-steamer for Vancouver. The Department is now in communication with the Canadian Post Office on the subject. I have, &c, The Canadian Trade Commissioner, Auckland. W. "R. Morris, Secretary. [Vane. Misc. 13/69.]

No. 57. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Canadian Trade Commissioner, Auckland. Sir, — Postmaster-General's Office, Wellington, 9th August, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 10th and 11th ultimo and Ist instant, on the subject of irregular despatch of the mail-steamer from Auckland to Vancouver. Since the Secretary wrote you on the sth instant I learn from Ottawa that the Canadian Government has not appointed any person in the Dominion to represent it in the matter of arranging the time-table of the Vancouver service in virtue of provisions of clause 4 of the contract for the performance of that service. This being so, I assume you write as representing the important interests committed to you in your capacity of Canadian Trade Commissioner. The contractors will be communicated with with a view to securing a more regular despatch from Auckland if possible. I have, &c, T>. Heaton Rhodes. The Canadian Trade Commissioner, Auckland, Postmaster-General. Vane. Misc. 13/71.]

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