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No. 61. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir,— Dunedin, 14th August, 1913. The shipments of cold-storage cargo from Auckland have increased to quite an unexpected extent for the last few voyages, and from inquiries we have made we expect these to continue up to and including March, 1914. Although we have not sought to change the sailinghour, 3 p.m. Friday, because it did not appear certain that the heavy shipments would continue, we now beg to suggest that, for the convenience of shippers and all concerned, the sailinghour might be altered to 10 a.m. sharp on Saturday. We would then arrange that the steamers would not under average weather-conditions fail to reach Suva in time to sail again on Tuesday and reach Vancouver on their time-table dates. We shall be much obliged for your assent to this proposal at your earliest convenience, so that we may announce the change of sailing-hour for sailings up till March inclusive. We need hardly mention that this would allow the despatch of mails a day later from southern points to make connection at Auckland. I have, &c, R. McK. McLennan, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. For General Manager. [Vane. Misc. 13/87.]

No. 62. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 27th August, 1913. In reference to your letter of the 14th instant, asking that the starting-time of the Vancouver mail-steamer from Auckland be fixed at 10 a.m. on Saturdays, I have the honour to inform you that the Postmaster-General agrees to the vessel being despatched from Auckland on Saturdays at 10 a.m. until the end of March of next year, on the condition that your company gives a guarantee that the connection with the eastward-bound mail-trains from Vancouver will not be missed. I have, &c, W. R. Morris, Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. [P. & T. 36/B.] "

No. 63. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Dkputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd September, 1913. I have the honour to inform you that the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited) requested that the schedule time for the despatch of the Vancouver mail-steamer from Auckland be altered from 3 p.m. on Friday to 10 a.m. on Saturday up to March, 1914, to meet the convenience of shippers and others. Assuming the approval of the Minister of Trade and Commerce of Canada, this Department has approved of the alteration of the starting-time on the condition that the company gives a guarantee that the connection with the eastward-bound mail-trains from Vancouver will not be missed. I should be glad if you would send me timetables of the trains. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa. W. R. Morris, Secretary.

No. 64. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington,' to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 25th September, 1913. I have the honour to inform you that it is reported in the public Press that the Canadian Government has contracted with the chief Canadian steamship Htios to carry British mails exclusively in future, and that no British-Canadian mails will reach New York. I should be obliged if you would furnish me with particulars of the service referred to; also inform me whether New Zealand mails via Vancouver are forwarded by this service. If they are so forwarded, kindly let me know the dates and time's of departure from the-Canadian port, and the due dates of arrival in London. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa. \Y. 1!. Morris, Secretary. [P. & T. 36/ I.] __

No. 65. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir, — Dunedin, 22nd" October, 1913. Referring to the recent arrangement whereby those [Vancouver] steamers are to be despatched from Auckland at 10 a.m. sharp on Saturday, 1 beg to mention that the " Marama," 30th August, did not get away until 11 a.m., and we have ascertained from our Auckland manager that, although she was not quite ready to sail at 10 a.m. sharp, your Department had asked for postponement for half an hour.