F.—6

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No. 115. The Assistant Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Dalgety and Co. (Limited), Wellington. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 6th January, 1914. In reference to the despatch from Sydney to Auckland by the s.s. " Zealandic " on the 25th November last of mails for this Dominion, I beg to inform you that payment for the conveyance of the mails originating in the United Kingdom, Europe, and India, which is based on statistics, will be made to you when the accounts are prepared for last year. As the actual weights cannot be ascertained, pa} - ment cannot be made at poundage rates. The Sydney Post Office informed this Department on the 28th November last that payment for the conveyance of the Commonwealth mails would be made at poundage rates to the agents at Sydney. I have, &c, F. V. Waters, Assistant Secretary. Messrs. Dalgety and Co. (Limited), Agents, White Star Steamship Line, Wellington. [Acknowledged 9th January, 1914.]

No. 116. The Assistant Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 6th January, 1914. I have the honour to refer to your letter of the 28th November last, reporting the despatch of mails to this Dominion by the White Star Company's " Zealandic." Payment for the conveyance of United Kingdom and foreign mails from Australia to New Zealand is based on statistics, and the amount due to Messrs. Dalgety and Co. for the mails conveyed by the " Zealandic " will be paid when the accounts for last year are prepared. As the actual weights cannot be ascertained, payment cannot be made at poundage rates. Messrs. Dalgety and Co. have been so informed. I have, &c, F. V. Waters, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. Assistant Secretary.

No. 117. The Assistant Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Wellington. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 6th January, 1914. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, intimating that the s.s. " Willochra," which is to leave Wellington for Sydney on the 9th idem, will not be able to steam more than about twelve knots, owing to her not having been docked for cleaning. The condition of the vessel is regretted, but it is hoped that she will reach Sydney in time to enable the mail-connection to be made. I have, &c, F. V. Waters, Assistant Secretary. The Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Wellington.

No. 118. The Secretary, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary. General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir, — Dunedin, 12th January, 1914. Adverting again to your letter of the 29th December, the report received from the '•' Maunganui " regarding the landing of mails at Watson's Bay, Sydney, on the 2nd December is to the effect that the radio message referred to was received on board the ship and the foreign and southern mails were sorted and ready before the ship came to an anchorage. The Post Office tender came alongside, and took delivery of a few slings of mail-bags, and then left the "Maunganui "; a second tender was waiting and took off the rest of the mails, but apparently did not reach the landing-place in time for the mails to connect with the express which left Sydney at 8 p.m. Under the circumstances there does not seem to be any blame attachable to the officers of the "Maunganui," and we will be glad to hear, in due course, the result of your further inquiries. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. C. Hughes, Secretary.