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CALL AT FANNING ISLAND. No. 90. The High Commissioner to the Hon. the Prime Minister. Sir, — Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London S.W., 20th March, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th January last [No. 85, F.-6, 1913] with regard to the desire of the Pacific Cable Board for the call of the Vancouver mail-steamers at Fanning Island. In reply, I have to inform you that the contents of your letter were duly conveyed to the Chairman of the Board, and I now enclose, for your information, a copy of his reply. I have, &c, The Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington, New Zealand. Thos. Mackenzie. [Vane. Misc. 13/28.] Enclosure in No. 90. The Chairman, Pacific Cable Board, London, to the High Commissioner. Sir, — Queen Anne's Chambers, London S.W., 3rd March, 1913. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 28th ultimo [not printed], communicating the decision of your Government relative to mail-steamer communication with Fanning Island, which I am sure will be a source of extreme regret to the Board. As you are aware, the Board have not made arrangements of any kind with the " Kestrel," and do not propose to do so; and it seems a pity that the New Zealand Government should have allowed itself to be influenced by a statement devoid of any authority. I have, &c, H. W. Primrose, Chairman. The High Commissioner, 13 Victoria Street, London S.W. [Vane. Misc. 13/27.]

No. 91. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir,— General Post Office, London, 9th April, 1913. With reference to your letter of the 12th March, 1912 [see No. 186, F.-6, 1912], and previous correspondence, relative to the mail-service to Fanning Island, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to inform you that, according to a letter received from the Pacific Cable Board, the cable steamer "Iris" will leave Auckland for Fanning Island early in June next. Ihe Postmaster-General proposes to take advantage of this opportunity for the despatch of correspondence for Fanning Island, and all such correspondence received in time will be forwarded as it comes to hand in the mails for Auckland for onward transmission by the "Iris." The last of the correspondence to connect with that steamer will be forwarded in the mail to be despatched from this office via Suez on the 25th instant, which is due at Auckland on the Ist June. The Postmaster-General will be glad if you will make the necessary arrangements for the onward transmission of this correspondence and of all parcels for the island reaching your office before the sailing of the steamer. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. E. W. Farnali . [P.O. 11/345(2).] [Acknowledged, 30th May, 1913.]

No. 92. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, gth May, 1913. I have the honour to inform you that a further communication [see enclosure in No. 90] has been received from the Pacific Cable Board relative to the desire of the Board that the contract steamers engaged in the Vancouver service should make periodical calls at Fanning Island. The objection hitherto has been that too much time would be taken up with the calls, but with the advent of a vessel of the class of the " Niagara " it is possible that the call can be made without any appreciable delay. The Board, I understand, is prepared to pay a reasonable sum for the convenience. I should be glad to have an expression of your opinion on the subject. I have, &c. W. R. Morris, Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin, [Vane. Misc. 13/31.]

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