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As can be readily imagined, this caused great confusion at the offices of importers, and in the bill departments of the various banks, owing to the fact that several steamers were in dock and no relative bills of lading had arrived. It has no doubt come to your notice that some of the faster direct liners arrive in London before the Suez mail carrying the relative bills of lading. Assured of your favourable consideration, I have, &c, J. N. Newman, Chairman. The Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand.

No. 151. The Pkbsident, Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, to the Hon. the PostmasterGenebal, Wellington. Canterbury Chamber of Commerce (Incorporated), Sir, — Christchurch, 25th June, 1913. The following letter has been received by a local merchant from his London correspondent : — " Regular Mail-service. (See Enclosure 2 in No. 152.) I am sure that I need only bring the matter under your notice for it to receive the attention which the importance of the subject deserves. It seems to me that it would help matters greatly if information was given through the public Press when the outgoing New Zealand mail failed to connect at the Australian port. I have, &0., The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. R. Hill Fisher, President.

No. 152. The Managing Director, Wellington Farmers' Meat Company, Masterton, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Wellington Farmers' Meat Company (Limited), Sir,— Masterton, N.Z., 26th June, 1913. I am enclosing copies of letters which we have received from our agents in London, Messrs. Gilbert Anderson and Co., bearing on the non-arrival to time of the New Zealand mails in London. As you will see by the letters in question, the erratic arrival of the mails is causing a great deal of inconvenience, and also loss to exporters from New Zealand. In our own case we have been fairly heavy losers by the fact that our bills of lading and other instructions to our agents have not arrived in time. It seems a most remarkable thing that the cargo tramps should arrive Home and beat the mails by several days. Trusting you will look into this matter, We have, &c, The Wellington Farmers' Meat Company (Limited), J. C. Cooper, Managing Director. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

Enclosure 1 in No. 152. Messrs. Gilbert Anderson and Co., London, to the Secretary, Wellington Farmers' Meat Company, Masterton. Sir, — Terminus Chambers, 6 Holborn Viaduct, London E.G., 14th May, 1913. Owing to the failure of the mail-carrying steamers from the colony to connect, we are without the Italian mail, which was due here on the 11th instant, as also the Vancouver mail due here on the 12th instant, and they are not now expected until the 18th and 16th respectively. As, therefore, the above vessel is due on the 15th instant, we had to cable you yesterday requesting the numbers of the bills of lading covering orders 37/38/39, and thank you for your prompt reply in this morning. Late arrival of mails is becoming quite a frequent occurrence, and in this instance and previously we have written strongly to the High Commissioner here. We trust, however, that you will take the matter up with the Head Office at Wellington, as w r e are sure you fully realize how important it is that the mails arrive in London in accordance with schedule, otherwise there is not only the expense of cabling, but danger with buyers re their documents We have, &c, Gilbert Andersoh and Co. The Secretary, the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company (Limited), Masterton, Wellington, N.Z. Enclosure 2 in No. 152. Messrs. Gilbert Anderson and Co., London, to the Managing Director, Wellington Farmers' Meat Company, Masterton. Sib, — Terminus Chambers, 6 Holborn Viaduct, London E.G., 16th May, 1913. We wish to draw your special attention to the very erratic manner in which the mails from New Zealand are being delivered here. We have referred to this in the past, but instead of any improvement matters seem to be getting worse and worse.