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tion at San Francisco until night-time of the mail-steamers for Auckland and Sydney, and reporting in detail the action which followed thereupon. A copy of your letter has been sent to the Sydney Post Office, with a suggestion that the London, Post Office should be asked to select only the swiftest vessels for the transport of our mails to New York; and Sir Dillon Bell is to be asked to make similar representations. The Postmaster-General does not see his way to recommend any alteration in the day of despatch from London, seeing that the service has but twelve months to run. Any change in the departure of the San Francisco mails from London would also involve an alteration in the time-table of the Direct service. I sincerely hope the contemplated fast overland-service will be maintained, and that it will not meet the fate of previous attempts to shorten the time between New York and San Francisco. I have, &c, B. J. Creighton, Esq., W. Geay, Secretary. Besident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, California.

No. 53. Mr. Lambton to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sib, — General Post Office, Sydney, 27th December, 1889. I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ultimo, enclosing copies of correspondence received from Mr. Creighton respecting an accelerated delivery of English mails at San Francisco, and suggesting that the London Post Office might be approached by the Agents-General to see whether it would not be possible to have the swiftest vessels selected for the conveyance of the colonial mails to New York. In reply, I am to state that only specially-marked letters to and from New South Wales and Great Britain are sent by the American route, the weekly mail via Suez answering all our purposes as regards English correspondence ; but as, on the contrary, an accelerated service from Great Britain via San Francisco would be of importance to your colony, Mr. O'Connor had no objection to adopt your suggestion, and has instructed our Agent-General accordingly, as referred to in my telegram to you, a copy of which is attached. I have, etc., S. H. Lambton, Secretary. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 53. The Secbetaey, Post Office, Sydney, to the Seceetaey, Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 19th December, 1889. We are cabling Agent-General that he can co-operate yours asking London Office send mails swiftest Atlantic steamers without altering present day departure, suggested in your letter twentyseventh.

No. 54. Mr. B. J. Ceeighton to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sib, — San Francisco, 16th November, 1889. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the sth October, containing copy of cablegram from Sir Harry Atkinson, 13th September, intimating that the New Zealand Parliament had approved the renewal of the service for twelve months. The cable did not come to hand, and I was first apprised of the fact through the Agent's cable from Wellington. I have made inquiries as to the detention of the cable, but the Telegraph Office have not located the place where it occurred. The cable did not reach either San Francisco or New York, and the cable company have been written to on the subject. Your cablegram of the 30th October was duly received. I enclose herewith copy of correspondence with the Oceanic Steamship Company in reference thereto. I attach herewith memo, [not printed] of sailings transatlantic steamers, from which you will perceive that if the departure-date from England were put forward one week the last instalment of the Australian mail from London would be sent by the "Umbria," which always makes the passage under seven days, instead of by the " Aurania," which is an eight- or nine-day steamer. Both ships belong to the Cunard Line. The only inconvenience would be on the first trip. Another advantage of the change of steamers suggested is the fact that a fast Cunarder sails from Liverpool every fortnight, and should a fortnightly mail-service be established between San Francisco and the colonies it would have the assurance of having the Atlantic section covered by swift steamers of about equal rate of speed. i' '■'■'- '■'•' I think, if a faster Atlantic service were secured, the saving of time overland added would reduce the time between London, Auckland, and Sydney three days at least without accelerating the steamer's speed on the Pacific. Should the present schedule of sailing be retained the slow time by the "Aurania" will fender the'overland saving of no practical value. The change suggested by me would bring the departure from San Francisco earlier in the week, which would be an advantage. - I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, Post Office, Wellington. Bobt. J. Ceeighton.