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No. 57. Mr. Gbay to the Managing Dieectoe, Union Steamship Company (Limited), Dunedin. (Telegram.) Wellington, 17th November, 1891. Shall be glad to receive definite proposals re intercolonial service.

No. 58. Mr. Whitson to the. Secretaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin, Sic,— 18th November, 1891. I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum of 4th instant, addressed to our chairman, enclosing copy of trial time-table in connection with the proposed weekly mail-service via Melbourne and Suez, for which I am much obliged. I have, &c, T. W. Whitson, W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. For Managing Director.

No. 59. The Hon. the Peemieb to the Agent-Genebal, London. Sic, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 26th November, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir F. D. Bell's letter of the 30th September in. the matter of the negotiations then indeterminate for the renewal of the ocean mailservices. You are now aware of the result of the negotiations in respect of both the San Francisco and the Direct services. In the same letter Sir Dillon Bell notifies the succession of Sir James Fergusson to the office of Postmaster-General of the United Kingdom. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. J. Ballance.

No. 00. Mr. Geay to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Sydney. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 26th November, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 12th instant, notifying that the charges to New Zealand for use of the Federal mail-service would be assimilated to those levied on non-contracting colonies using the San Francisco service, in accordance with the recommendation of the heads of departments at the recent Conference, and to inform you that the terms are acquiesced in. I enclose herewith a copy of the time-table for the San Francisco service for 1891-92. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 61. Mr. Gray to the Superintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington. Sib, — General Post Office, Wellington, 26th November, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th September, in reference to the renewal of the San Francisco service, and the request of this department for reduction of the United States territorial transit charges. You explain that the statutes do not confer upon the Postmaster-General authority either to reduce the rates charged for the United States intermediary transit of closed mails of foreign origin, or to grant that conveyance free of charge. By the present mail the Hon. Mr. Wauamaker has again been urged to obtain the consent of Congress to a reduction of the transit charges ; and it is hoped that at no distant date your office will be able to announce the reduction. I am much obliged to you for the copy which you enclosed of the pamphlet containing the advertisement calling for proposals under the Act, approved the 3rd March last, "to provide for Ocean Mail-service between the United States and Foreign Ports, and to promote Commerce." It is hoped that the fast fortnightly service to New Zealand and Australia contemplated under the provisions thereof will shortly become an accomplished fact. I have, &c, The Superintendent, Office of Foreign Mails, W. Gbay, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C. For the, Postmaster-General.