¥.— 4

22

Your letter of same date has also been received. I trust that hereafter there may be no difficulty in carrying out the new time-schedule, which would connect with the " Majestic " at New York, as explained in my previous letter. Mr. McLean, who returns by the "Monowai," is fully impressed with the importance of this connection for saving time in the delivery of the Home-bound mail. Owing to the severe weather on the Atlantic the " Umbria " was nearly thirty-six hours late, which detains the "Monowai" at San Francisco until to-day. This was unfortunate on the first date of the new schedule, but it was unavoidable. The " Teutonic," which arrived on Thursday, was twenty-four hours overdue on account of the weather. As the season advances Ido not anticipate any similar detention. The "Umbria" has been scheduled for the entire year, and the agents have telegraphed to Mr. Spreckels that she will be run during 1891 according to schedule. The Agent-General must therefore have been misinformed as to the sailing-dates of that ship after April next. I received the following cable from the Hon. Postmaster-General: " Wellington, 13th January, 1891. —To Creighton, San Francisco. Unable change Sydney sailing "this month. Plow secure saving three days, and whether permanent. —Mitohelson." To which I replied, 17th January, 1891, when cabling the steamer movements :" To Postal, New Zealand. Permanent. Sydney, sailing 26th January, connects " Majestic," sailing 25th February, avoids detention ; 26th January sailing advertised Sydney." My letter will have explained the point more fully. I enclose herewith correspondence with the Superintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington, D.C., for your information. Nothing definite has been done either in reference to the Shipping Bills or the overland railroad charges. Postmaster-General Wanamaker proposes to give free transportation. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, Post Office, Wellington. Eobt. J. Creighton.

Enclosure 1 in No. 51. Post Office Department, Office of Foreign Mails, Washington, D.C., Sic, — 9th January, 1891. I have the honour to invite your attention to the following statement, viz. : Under date of the 28th November last the New Zealand Office advised this department that the colony had " arranged for the continuance of the San Francisco mail-service for another twelve months," which advice was understood here to indicate that the previous contract with the Oceanic Steamship Company had been renewed. Under date of the 29th ultimo, however, Mr. John D. Spreckels states that the mails were despatched from Sydney last month by the British steamer " Monowai," notwithstanding the Oceanic steamer " Zealandia " was at Sydney ready to convey said mails; and that he had been advised that the mails from New Zealand would be delivered to the steamer " Monowai" upon her arrival at Auckland, and that she would expect to convey the mails from San Francisco upon her return voyage. I would thank you to inform this department, at your early convenience, whether the arrangement referred to by the New Zealand office was a renewal of the contract with the Oceanic Steamship Company, or a new contract with another company, and also to furnish any information you may have respecting the reported despatch of mails from Sydney per the steamer " Monowai." I am, &c, N. M. Bbooks, Mr. Robert J. Creighton, Superintendent, Foreign Mails. Agent of New Zealand Government, San Francisco, California.

Enclosure 2 in No. 51. The Hon., N. M. Brooks to Mr. Cbeighton. Post Office Department, Office of Foreign Mails, Washington, D.0., Slß,— 16th January, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, acknowledging the receipt of copies of the report of the operations of this office for the fiscal year ended the 30th June, 1890, and requesting to be furnished with a copy of the Postmaster-General's official report for the same period ; and also correcting certain clerical errors in your letter of the 27th ultimo, relative to the change from Saturday to Thursday in the sailing-day of the mail-steamers to leave San Francisco for Auckland on and after the sth proximo. In reply, I have to inform you that I have forwarded to your address by to-day's mail, under separate cover, the desired copy of the Postmaster-General's report; and that the inaccuracies in your letter of the 27th were discovered upon its receipt at this department, and were corrected before action was taken in regard thereto, of the result of which action you will be promptly advised. In this connection, I have to request that you will furnish this department, as soon as practicable, with five additional copies of the time-table of the Oceanic Steamship Company, similar to those enclosed in your letter of 27th December. I am, &c, N. M. Brooks, Mr. E. J. Creighton, Superintendent of Foreign Mails. Agent of New Zealand Government, No. 327, Market Street, San Francisco, California,