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No. 111. The Secretary, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir, — Dunedin, 13th December, 1913. We are in receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, and thank you for the informatior that under the special circumstances it has been decided not to impose any penalty with regard to the late arrival of the " Maunganui " in Sydney on the 2nd instant. I have, etc., The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. C. Hughes, Secretary.

No. 112. The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Postmaster-General's Department, General Post Office, Sir, — Sydney, 15th December, 1913. Referring to your cablegram of the 29th ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that, in confirmation, of my telegram of the 3rd instant, a special train was engaged for forward southern mails ex s.s. " Maunganui," received here on the 2nd idem. This office was advised by the Union Steam Ship Company that a radio message had been sent to the captain of the " Maunganui " instructing him to have all foreign and southern mails ready for landing at Watson's Bay. This message was received by the " Maunganui " at 12.41 p.m. on the 2nd instant, but the instructions were not complied with. Had the instructions been observed all the mails could have caught the Melbourne express at 8 p.m., thereby obviating the necessity for a special train. I have, &c, E. J. Young, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Deputy Postmaster-General.. [P. & T. 36/11.]

No. 113. The Assistant Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 29th December, 1913. In reference to the arrival at Sydney of the s.s. " Maunganui " on the 2nd instant, at 5.55 p.m., I have the honour to inform you that your compan}' announced to the Sydney Post Office that a radio message had been sent to the master instructing him to have all foreign and southern mails ready for landing at Watson's Bay. Although the instructions were received on the " Maunganui " on the 2nd instant at 12.41 p.m., they were not complied with. Had the mails been sorted as directed a connection would have been made with the express train which left Sydney for Melbourne at 8 p.m., thus obviating the necessity for a special train to be engaged at the cost of this Department. ' I shall be glad of an explanation of the failure to have the mails ready for landing as instructed. I have, &c, F. V. Waters, Assistant Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 114. The Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office. Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir, — Wellington, 2nd January, 1914. The " Willochra," which left Melbourne on the 31st ultimo, takes the running from Wellington to Sydney on the 9th instant, on which date there is a connection with the P. and 0. mail-steamer. Unfortunately, however, the bottom of the "Willochra" is in a very dirty condition, and according to advices we have received she is not capable of steaming more than about twelve knots. This is due to the fact that, owing to strike troubles, it was impossible to Jock her at Sydney, and she was also unable to dock in Melbourne on account of her draught, she having taken in bunker coal for the round voyage. For the same reason she could not be docked at Port Chalmers, and nothing remains, therefore, but to allow her docking to stand over untii she reaches Sydney. I regret the necessity for having to intimate to you that there is a possibility that she may miss the connection with the P. and O. mail in consequence of her reduced speed, but take the earliest opportunity of notifying you. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. W. A. Kennedy, Manager