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No. 78. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Agent-General, London. (Telegram.) Wellington, 7th January, 1892. Youe letter received 27th November. Consider colony should have been consulted before speciallyaddressed system abolished. Intercolonial service now impossible except at prohibitive cost. Mails therefore by ordinary steamers leaving Melbourne three days after due date arrival. Only first and second weeks' collection following Frisco despatch should be sent via Italy. Mails divided same as by Direct steamers, but without first port call. All later correspondence by Frisco unless specially addressed. Third weeks' collection will arrive earlier colony by Frisco than Italy. Advise Imperial Post Office. This also reply its letter. Mail forwarded " Arawa; " another " Coptic," Saturday.

No. 79. Mr. Geay to the Superintendent of Foeeign Mails, Washington g IB) General Post Office, Wellington, 21st January, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 11th November last and 2nd ultimo, in relation to the question of lowering the rates for the transcontinental carriage of New Zealand mails by your department. The Postmaster-General is obliged to the Hon. Mr. Wanamaker for his favourable disposition towards this question, and hopes yet to hear that the rates will be reduced before the expiryjof the existing contract for the San Francisco mail-service, in November next. I have, &c, The Superintendent, W. Geay, Secretary. Office of Foreign Mails, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C..

• • No. 80. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Peemiee. (Telegram.) London, 22nd January, 1892. Message received seventh. Imperial Post Office agrees.

No. 81. Mr. Geay to Mr. Creighton, Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 25th January, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th ultimo, on the subject of the reduction of the transit charges, and the present position of the San Francisco service. Your further correspondence with the Washington Post Office in connection with the overlandtransit charges, is noted with approval. The Postmaster-General scarcely thinks that there is such ground for alarm as to the future of the service as you seem to suppose. The fact that this Government has given its voice in favour of a mixed service can hardly be said to have operated prejudicially, or to have brought matters into their present position. Nothing is likely to result from the invitation for tenders for a fortnightly service, and there should be no reason, therefore, why the United States Post Office should not indicate forthwith what it is prepared to give towards maintaining the present service If this were done both the Oceanic and the Union Steamship Companies would know what they had to expect, and how to act. Of course, in any service jointly maintained by the United States and New Zealand the colony would require to have a voice in its arrangement and management. I have, &c, E. J. Creighton, Esq., W. Geay, Secretary. Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, California.

No. 82. Mr. Cbeighton to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Sm, — San Francisco, Bth January, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge, per " Monowai," receipt of time-table for the sailings during 1892. I regret that, owing to a change in the Ounard Company's time-table for the present year, the sailing-day from San Francisco should be changed to Friday, as the " Aurania " takes the " Umbria's " place. You will therefore authorise this change to be made. Owing to heavy weather, the " Monowai " did not arrive here until the 25th December, 1891, being one day late ; and she cannot sail until Monday, the 11th January, because the English mail was shipped on the " Bothnia," which, as you know, is a slow ship. This will be the only trip of the " Bothnia " with the mail. I enclose herewith correspondence with the Hamburg American Packet Company regarding the detention of the " Furst Bismarck," and payment of $40. I also enclose correspondence with the Superintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington, on the subject of overland-transit charges, in continuation of my letter on this question forwarded by last mail.