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by the United States. Of course you will have seen from my messages, that whatever may be the American contribution it will come in aid of your San Francisco subsidy, and the Imperial Government makes no claim in respect of it. Copies of telegrams, and of my letters to the London Office are annexed. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure 1 in No. 81. The Agent-General to the Secretary, General Post-office, London. Sir,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., London, 10th September, 1890. In the letter which I had the honour of addressing to you on the 29th August respecting the ocean mail-services between this country and New Zealand, I expressed the hope that I might be enabled, in addition to the offer of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury for the San Francisco service, to cable to my Government the basis which their Lordships would be willing to adopt in regard to the alternating service by Direct steamer. The time was even then very near for the session of the New Zealand Parliament to close; and, as my Government had not had the advantage of knowing their Lordship's views in regard to the Direct service, it became necessary to settle the proposals to bo submitted to the Legislature, so that the question of accepting Mr. Goschen's proposal of the universal rate of postage might be definitely settled before the prorogation. Accordingly, as regards the San Francisco service, the House of Eepresentatives will be invited to sanction its renewal, upon the basis laid down by their Lordships and defined in Mr. Rea's letter to me of 28th August. As regards the Direct service, the House will also be asked to provide for its continuance, on the basis of a similar allowance being made to the colony for the conveyance of letters as their Lordships offered in the case of San Francisco—namely, 12s. per pound, together with an allowance of half-postage on books and newspapers despatched from this country. Eesolutions to the above effect will accordingly be brought down in the House of Eepresentatives to-morrow. Under these circumstances I trust that the Postmaster-General may be able to recommend the Lords of the Treasury to sanction the basis above mentioned for the Direct line, so that the ocean mail-services by both routes may be finally arranged. I am, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure 2 in No. 81. The Agent-General to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir,— 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 15th September, 1890. In continuation of my recent letters respecting the ocean mail-services between this country and New Zealand, I beg to inform you that I have to-day received a cable message from my Government, stating that the House of Eepresentatives have approved of the renewal, for twelve months, of the existing services via San Francisco and by Direct steamers, and have also approved of the postage on letters by those routes being fixed at 2-Jd. The message further states that the postage rui Suez will continue to be 6d., restricted to letters specially marked by that route. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, St. Martin's-le-Graud. F. D. Bell.

No. 82. The Hon. the Postmaster-General to the Agent-General, London. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 28th November, 1890. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of the 19th September last, in which you give a risumi of your negotiations with the London Post Office in connection with the decision of this colony to renew the San Francisco and Direct mail-services for another twelve months. I have, &c, Fred. Whitaker, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. For Postmaster-General.

No. 83. The Secretary, New Zealand Shipping Company, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 28th November, 1890. We are in receipt of cable intimating that the London Board of this company and Shaw-Savill agree to renew the mail contract for one year on the terms already agreed with you, provided no penalty is enforced in the event of accident to or loss of any steamer carrying the mails. We trust the Postmaster-General will see his way to agree to this slight modification, and finally settle the matter.