GRAIN FREIGHTS FOR LONDON (CORRESPONDENCE IN CONNECTION WITH REDUCTION OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1899 Session I, H-35a

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1899. NEW ZEALAND.

GRAIN FREIGHTS FOR LONDON (CORRESPONDENCE IN CONNECTION WITH REDUCTION OF).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave of the House.

[Telegram No. I.] The Manager, Tyser Shipping Line, Napier. Wellington, 20th February, 1899. In consequence of the abundant harvest and large crops throughout New Zealand, to be able to find a market for it a large portion of it must necessarily be shipped. Taking into consideration the low prices ruling in the markets of the world, the Government is anxious, in the interests of the producers of the colony, to ascertain what is the probable rate of freight your company will charge for the carriage of wheat and oats to London, and also the available tonnage you ■estimate you will be able to supply during the season. lam asking for similar information from the other shipping companies. An early reply will oblige. Beply paid. John McKenzie, . Minister for Agricnlture. .: '.' [Same sent to Shaw-Savill and Albion Company, New Zealand Shipping Company, and Messrs. Turnbull and Martin (agents for the Shire Line of steamers).]

[Eeply to Telegram No. I.] Hon. John McKenzie, Minister for Agriculture, Invercargill. Referring to your telegram of to-day, I expect to have considerable amount of steam tonnage available for homeward cargo froni New Zealand during the winter months, and have cabled my head office, London, for the lowest freight I can quote for full cargoes of grain for our New York steamers. I will be in Wellington, Thursday, 23rd, and will have the honour to call upon you with particulars of available tonnage, and discuss the matter with you personally. EICHABD TODD, Tyser Line, Napier.

[Eeply to Telegram No. 1 from New Zealand Shipping Company.] Hon. John McKenzie, Dunedin. . 21st February, 1899. Your telegram of yesterday was submitted to the Board of Directors of this Company at ics meeting to-day, and I am instructed to reply that the rate of freight on grain for London must depend on rate at which we can charter vessels. We have never made any profit out of the carriage of grain, as it is our practice to put sailing-ships on the berth at the same rates at which we charter them. We have already chartered several sailing-vessels and are negotiating for others, as we must make provision for the requirements of our clients. We shall have a considerable amount of steamer tonnage during the season, but the quantity available for grain wiil depend upon the space required for frozen meat' and dairy produce. Several sailing-vessels have been already chartered by private persons, who, we believe, are negotiating for more. ■'■'' ' ISSAC GIBB, General Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch.

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[Eeply to Telegram No. 1 from Messrs. Turnbull and Martin.] Hon. John McKenzie, Minister for Agriculture, Invercargill. 20th February, ISPQ.'-^g As far as Shire Line steamers are concerned we are in position carry considerable quantities of grain during winter months from Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, or Bluff, in four steamers, provided freight is payable. We have to consult Shaw-Savill, New Zealand Shipping Company on this matter. Understand their idea is £1 12s. 6d. wheat; £1 17s. 6d. oats, by steamer. TUENBULL, MABTIN, AND Co., Agents, Shire Line.

[Eeplies to Telegram No. 1 from National Mortgage Company, Agents for Shaw-Savill and Albion Company, Dunedin.] Hon. J. McKenzie, Minister for Agriculture, Invercargill. 20th February, 1899. Thebb is every appearance of ample steamer tonnage for grain. Am leaving for Timaru to-day, reaching Christchurch Wednesday. Will consult with coadvisers and reply definitely. Wμ. Henderson, National Mortgage, Dunedin.

Hon. John McKenzie, Minister for Agriculture, Dunedin. 23rd February, 1899. Owing to shrinkage of wool for sailers at all ports this season several Shaw-Savill's vessels brought to New Zealand waters at considerable loss on market rates are available for grain at current rates, probably, basis, 30s. wheat. If Government contemplate assisting shippers by tonnage contributions we shall be glad to facilitate by removal of vessels to ports where early dispatch can be assured. We also anticipate considerable steamer space for grain will be available throughout the season, contingent on wool and other produce shipments. Wμ. Hendebson, Shaw-Savill's Eepresentatives.

[Telegram from A. H. Crawford and Co.] Hon. John McKenzie, Shag Point. Dunedin, 28th February, 1899. London cables offering steamer capacity sixty thousand sacks ; eighteen loading days ; lay days to commence 15th April; Timaru-Lyttelton rate, 355. ton. Premier will see you about. Please telegraph reply afternoon. Offer only open till to-day. A. H. Cbawfobd.

[Telegram.] Palmerston, 28th February, 1899. A. H. Crawford and Co. (late Stanley and Co.), Dunedin. Thibty-five shillings prohibitive. Must have cheaper freights. John McKenzie.

[Telegrams from Tyser Line]. Hon. John McKenzie, Wellington. Napier, 15th March, 1899. Beceived favourable reply from London. Writing full particulars. Will letter reach you Wellington, Friday night. Todd.

Hon. John McKenzie, Wellington. Napier, 16th March, 1899. Letter posted by to-day's mail. Todd.

[Letter.] Deak Sib, — The Tyser Line (Limited), Napier, 15th March, 1899. As advised by telegram to-day, I have had a favourable reply to my cable to London re freight on wheat and oats, and am now in a position to place at your disposal all the surplus space in our regular line of insulated steamers during the winter months of this year, say, from April until October. I find it impossible to make any reliable estimate of the probable amount of space that will be available for your purposes in each steamer, but you may depend upon from six to eight thousand sacks in each of the smaller-sized boats, and in the "Leitrim" twenty-five to thirty thousand sacks. The latter sailed from Sydney for Auckland to-day, and will be available for loading at a southern port about 21st April. She ■will be followed by the " Indramayo," " Star of England," and " Hawke's Bay," during May, and after that we will have a steamer every month. Our new steamer " Tomoana," due in the colony July or August, should have space for 30,000 or 40,000 sacks.

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Freight to be paid as agreed—viz., £1 10s. per ton of 2,2401b. for wheat, and £1 12s. 6d. per ton of 2,240 lb. for oats, both with 5 per cent, primage added. The grain to be shipped in proportion of not less than two-thirds wheat to one-third oats. As regards our New York steamers, I am authorised to offer you the " Queen Eleanor"— sailed from New York Ist instant—at £1 10s. per ton on her dead-weight capacity. I shall require prompt reply for this vessel, as other negotiations are pending, and she is only offering at the above low rate on account of your promised outward support. I hope to be able to arrange for the succeeding steamer " Ardendeary " at the same rate, but cannot close her for a fortnight. 1 am &c, Hon. J. McKenzie, Wellington. Eichabd Todd.

[Telegrams to Tyser Shipping Company.] Captain E. Todd, Tyser Shipping Line, Napier. Wellington, 17th March, 1899. Youe letter duly received last night. I have called meeting of Cabinet this morning to place matter before my colleagues, and afterwards will communicate with Premier for his concurrence, if Cabinet decides. I have delayed going South until Monday, so as to get this matter fixed up. I hope, at latest to-morrow night or Monday morning, to give you definite answer confirming matter. It will afterwards be necessary for you to come to Wellington to place whole arrangement in proper order in writing, so that there would be no possibility of any dispute arising hereafter. John McKbnzie.

Captain E. Todd, Tyser Shipping Line, Napier. Wellington, 17th March, 1899. I am now in a position to inform you that Government has decided to confirm and carry out arrangement made between us re shipping wheat and oats from New Zealand on the terms stated by you by telegraph, and which you confirm in your letter. To prevent any mistake, I think it will be necessary the whole matter should now be put in writing, so as to prevent any misunderstanding. Could you come to Wellington for this purpose, or would you instruct Mr. Beauchamp, your representative here, to act for the company ? I think you should instruct your agents throughout the colony to try and procure freights for the ships at the various ports. John McKbnzik. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,375 copies, not including lithographs), £1 6s. cd.

By Authority : John Mackat, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB99. Price 3d.]

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