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The mails are so erratic and irregular in their delivery that we are put tv very great expense from time to time, and even have to cable you for particulars in reference to documents which, with a regular service, ought to be in our hands in plenty of time for the requirements of business. We have had no proper delivery of New Zealand mails since the 3rd May, although it is now the 16th. The Vancouver mail, which was scheduled to leave New Zealand on the 11th ultimo and to arrive here in the ordinary course on the 12th instant, has not yet put in an appearance. Along with this, the Brindisi mail which should have arrived on the 11th instant, owing to failure of proper service and arrangements for connecting in Australia, has evidently missed the latter, and will not now be delivered until the 18th instant. You will therefore note that two weeks will elapse without any information or any documents from New Zealand. How serious this matter is may be gathered from the fact that the following vessels are all arriving between the dates mentioned above, carrying very large cargoes, and very great inconvenience and loss will be occasioned through the documents not being to hand to clear these vessels promptly: s.s " Buteshire," "Mongolia," "Waimana," " Buahine," "Star of Ireland," " Indralema." The matter is of such importance that we must ask you to take it up at once with the Government, and also with the members for your district. We do not know of any country that is put to such inconvenience in regard to mail-service as we are with New Zealand, and this is all owing to the lack of proper arrangements. This matter requires to be dealt with promptly, as the loss to the colony is very serious, and at the present moment may mean something very considerable. Not only is loss occasioned by additional expense incurred through storage of goods, and failure to forward them to their destination owing to the absence of documents, but it prevents firms representing New Zealand dealing with the goods to the best advantage according to the market position. We trust that we have impressed you with the seriousness of this matter, and that there is no further need for us to elaborate on it. It is so utterly unbusinesslike and contrary to modern ideas that the position should be taken up by strong agitation not only with the above, but also through the Chambers of Commerce. We have, &c, Gilbert Anderson and Co. The Managing Director, the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company (Limited), Masterton, Wellington, N.Z.

No. 153. Messrs. Curry, Eliott, and Co., Auckland, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir,—. 101 Victoria Arcade, Auckland, N.Z., 26th June, 1913. We have lately had several complaints from our English correspondents in reference to the irregularity of delivery of New Zealand mails in London, and the inconvenience to our clients, to say nothing of the expense incurred from time to time in cabling for particulars of shipments, has been very considerable. For your further information we enclose copy of a letter [see Enclosure 2 in No. 152] we have received from a business house with whom we have large transactions in reference to the matter, and we feel sure we have only to bring the subject before you to have an immediate remedy. We would add that in the meantime we do not propose to act on the suggestion to approach either the members for our district or the Chamber of Commerce, but will rely upon your efforts in the direction indicated. We have, &c, Curry, Eliott, and Co. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.

No. 154. The Secretary, Wairarapa Branch, New Zealand Farmers' Union, Masterton, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — New Zealand Farmers' Union, Wairarapa Branch, Masterton, Ist July, 19K5. I have been instructed by my committee to write calling your attention to the erratic manner of the delivery of New Zealand mails in London. Several of our members state that their consignments of meat reach London by cargo steamer before the advice, which was posted ahead by the mail-steamers. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. D. Hebenton, Secretary.

No. 155. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the President, Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch. Sir, — Postmaster-General's Office, Wellington, 4th July, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th ultimo, forwarding copy of a letter from the London correspondent of a Christchurch merchant protesting against what he stigmatizes as the very erratic manner in which mails from New Zealand are delivered in London.