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No. 5. The Hon. E. Mitchelson to Mr. Ceeighton, San Francisco. (Telegram.) Wellington, Bth September, 1890. Eeply whether America defray overland transit. Notice resolutions to-morrow, discussion Thursday. House prorogues Saturday.
No. 6. Mr. Ceeighton to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Geneeal, Wellington. (Telegram.) San Francisco, 9th September, 1890. No reply from Washington.
No. 7. Mr. Ceeighton to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. (Telegram.) San Francisco, 10th September, 1890. Postmastee-Geneeal replies proposal submitted Congress. Awaits authority act. Hopes comply request.
No. 8. The Hon. the Pbemiee to the Agent-Genebal, London. (Telegram.) Wellington, 10th September, 1890. Message received. (Vide No. 7, F.-6a, 1890.) House asked renew Frisco Direct. Basis payment your cable twenty-ninth.
No. 9. The Agent-Genebal, to the Hon. the Pkemieb, Wellington. (Telegram.) London, 10th September, 1890. Message received. Having regard to unforeseen difficulties have arisen basis contribution Direct service, advise keeping margin negotiation alternative plan.
No. 10. Mail-seevice Eesolutions (agreed to by the House of Eepresentatives, 13th September, 1890). Resolved, —1. That this House agrees with the proposal of the Imperial Government (already accepted by the Australian Colonies) to reduce the ocean letter-postage from 6d. to 2-J-d. per halfounce, provided that the reduction shall not apply to letters from the colony intended to be transmitted by way of Brindisi-Naples. 2. That this House also approves of the Brindisi-Naples letter-rate being reduced from Is. to 6d. per half-ounce; and that only specially-marked correspondence be forwarded by that route. 3. That, as the Imperial Government has agreed, in the event of the colony renewing the four-weekly contract services by way of San Francisco and by Direct steamer, (1) to defray the cost of conveying the outward mails to San Francisco, to allow the colony 12s. per pound on the letter portion of the said mails for carriage from San Francisco to New Zealand, and also defray the cost of the sea-transport of the Homeward mails from New York to London, —the colony to provide for their transit from San Francisco to New York; and (2) to credit the colony with 12s. per pound on the letters, and half the book- and newspaper-postage on the outward mails forwarded by Direct contract steamers from Plymouth, this House empowers the Government— (a.) To arrange with the present contractors for a twelve months' renewal of the San Francisco service on the following conditions: That the basis of payment shall be a rate of 12s. per pound on the net weight of the letters conveyed (excluding those from America); that all receipts received by New Zealand from the Imperial Post Office and non-contracting colonies for carriage of mails shall be paid over to the contractors —the colony's direct liability, however, is restricted to payment for its outward mails (which on those of 1889 would, it is estimated, have amounted to £5,725) ; that the contract route shall be San Francisco to Auckland or Wellington at the option of the contractors, and Auckland or Wellington to San Francisco, but the steamers may proceed to Sydney. The time between San Francisco and Auckland or Wellington shall not exceed twenty days either way. No bonus to be paid for early arrival, and penalties at the rate of £4 an hour to be enforced only when late delivery at either Auckland or Wellington or San Francisco exceeds forty-eight hours. That the steamers shall be liable for light, harbour, and other dues. In all other respects the provisions of the existing contract, where not repugnant to these conditions, to apply. That the Government be also authorised to defray one-half the cost of the transit of the Homeward mails from San Francisco to New York, the other half to be borne by the contractors or the American Government. (The Homeward mails sent across America in 1889 would, it is estimated, have cost for overland transit £3,844.) (b.) To arrange for a renewal of the four-weekly Direct service for twelve months' on the basis of a payment of 12s. per pound on letters, 9d. per pound on books, and 3d. per pound on newspapers. That all receipts received by- New Zealand from the Imperial Post Office, and from other countries, be paid over to the contractors; but the colony's direct liability be restricted to payment for its outward mails. (On the mails forwarded by the Direct contract steamers in