¥.— 6

36

No. 93. Ihe Assistant General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir, — Dunedin, 28th May, 1913. In reply to your favour of the Bth instant, I hare the honour to inform you that from time to time various negotiations have taken place between the company and the chairman of the Pacific Cable Board with reference to further calls at Fanning Island, and proposals have been made by us which have not been satisfactory to the Board. I have no further proposal to make, but shall be glad to discuss the matter with a representative of the Board at any time if it is desired to reopen the question. I may say the call at Fanning Island involves a considerable detour, at some expense, and probable loss of a day. This aspect of it was referred to the late Postmaster-General some time ago, when he indicated that the Government would not be agreeable to any extension of time to permit of the call at Fanning Island. I have, &c, D. A. Aiken, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Assistant General Manager. [Vane. Misc. 13/35.] [Acknowledged, 2nd June, 1913.]

No. 94. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Manager in the Pacific, Pacific Cable Board, Sydney. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 2nd June, 1913. I have the honour to inform you that a further letter [enclosure in No. 90] having been received by this Department from your Board, relative to the desire of the Board that the contract steamers engaged in the performance of the Vancouver mail-service should make periodical calls at Fanning Island, I communicated with the Union Steam Ship Company suggesting that the use in the service of the s.s. " Niagara " might enable the call to be made without any appreciable delay. I now enclose for your information a copy of the reply, from which you will observe that the company is prepared to discuss the matter with a representative of the Board at any time if it is desired that the question be reopened. I have, &c, W. R. Morris, Secretary. The Manager in the Pacific, Pacific Cable Board, 64 Pitt Street, Sydney. [Vano. Misc. 13/45.]

No. 95. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington Sir,— General Post Office, London, 4th October, 1913. With reference to your letter of the 30th May last [not printed] and previous correspondence, relative to the mail-service to Fanning Island, I am directed by the PostmasterGeneral to inform you.that, according to a letter received from the Pacific Cable Board, the steamer " Kestrel " will leave Honolulu for Fanning Island on the 4th December next, and about the 29th January and 26th March, 1914. The Pacific Cable Board asks that all correspondence for the island (including parcels) may be forwarded by these opportunities. Arrangements are accordingly being made for correspondence for Fanning Island, other than parcels, received by this office in time to be despatched to Honolulu via Vancouver for onward transmission by each sailing of the " Kestrel." As you are aware, parcels from this country for Fanning Island are forwarded, as they come to hand, to New Zealand for onward transmission, and the Postmaster-General will be glad if advantage can be taken of the sailings of the " Kestrel " for the despatch of parcels for the island in accordance with the request of the Pacific Cable Board. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. E. W. Fakna^l. [P.O. 11/345(2).]

No. 96. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd November, 1913. In reference to your letter of the 4th ultimo, respecting the arrangements for the despatch of correspondence and parcels for Fanning Island by the " Kestrel," leaving Honolulu for Fanning Island on the 4th proximo, and on the 29th January and 26th March next, 1 have the honour to inform you that this Administration has no objection to parcels for Fanning Island being forwarded as proposed. I should be glad, however, if you would send copies of the parcel-bills to this office for accounting purposes. I have, &c, W. R. Morris, The Secretary, General Post Office, London, For the Postmaster-General,