F.—6.

52

MISCELLANEOUS.

ARRIVAL OF NEW ZEALAND MAILS IN LONDON : NOTIFICATION

No. 149. The High Commissioner to the Hon. the Prime Minister. Sib, — Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London S.W., lffth May, 1913. I have the honour to enclose herewith copy of a letter received from Messrs. Gilbert Anderson and Co., Colonial Agents, of Terminus Chambers, 6 Holborn Viaduct, London E.G., with reference to the delay of mails from New Zealand. The paragraph from the Post Office Daily List referred to in the above-mentioned copy reads as follows : — " Mails from New Zealand, <&c, via Vancouver. " In consequence of the late arrival at Vancouver of the steamer ' Makura,' scheduled to leave New Zealand on the 11th ultimo, the mails from New Zealand, <fee, via Vancouver, due in ordinary course on the 12th instant, will probably not reach this country until the 16th instant. " Mails from New Zealand via Italy. " In consequence of failure to connect in Australia with the packet leaving for this country, the mails despatched from New Zealand on the 4th of last month, and due in ordinary course on the 11th instant, will probably not reach this country until the 18th instant." I shall be glad to have your reply with reference to these late arrivals of mails from the Dominion, in order that I may be in a position to communicate with the above-named firm. I have, &c, Ihe Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. Thos. Mackenzie. [P. & T. 37/43.]

Enclosure in No. 149. Messrs. Gilbert Anderson and Co., London, to the High Commissioner. Sir, — Terminus Chambers, 6 Holborn Viaduct, London E.G., 13th May, 1913. The enclosed paragraph from the Post Office Daily List is very significant in view of our previous correspondence [see No. 217, F.-6, 1912]. That there may be very serious loss and inconvenience is more than probable from the fact that the following vessels are all due to arrive with very valuable cargoes which have to be dealt with: s.s. "Buteshire,"' " Ruahine," " Waimana," " Star of Ireland," " Indralema," all due between the 15th and 18th of this month. We have, <fee, Gilbert Anderson and Co. The High Commissioner for New Zealand, 13 Victoria Street, London S.W.

No. 150. The High Commissioner to the Hon. the Prime Minister. Sir,— Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London S.W., 9th June, 1913. With reference to my memorandum of the 16th ultimo, with regard to the delay of mails from New Zealand, I have the honour to enclose herein copy of a letter received from the New Zealand Agents' Association, of Cecil House, Holborn Viaduct, London E.G., on the same subject. The reply asked for in my above-mentioned memorandum will doubtless also enable me to communicate with the association referred to. I have, &c.,' The Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. Thos. Mackenzie.

Enclosure in No. 150. The Chairman, New Zealand Agents' Association, London, to the High Commissioner. Sir, — Cecil House, Holborn Viaduct, London E.C., 2nd June, 1913. At a meeting of the members of the above association on the 29th instant, the subject of ihe irregularity of New Zealand mails was discussed, and it was resolved to solicit your good offices with the Dominion Government towards obtaining a more regular service. The mails delivered in London on the 19th instant—three in number —were variously dated in New Zealand from the Ist to the 12th April. One mail was ten days and another seven behind scheduled time.