F.—l

XIII

Once to twice weekly Hawera and Meremere, Hunterville, Paraekaretu, Otaera, Turakina River, Fordell Road Junction and Mangahia Valley; Marton and Silverhope Sawmills. Wellington— Once to twice daily Wellington and Karori. Twice to thrice weekly Makino, Cunningham's and Waituna West, Pahiatua and Kaitawa , Pahiatua and Makuri. The frequency of the following services was reduced : — Blenheim — Twice daily to daily Blenheim and Picton. Invercargill— Twice weekly to weekly Lumsden and Te Anau, Mararoa and The Key The following services were abolished : — Auckland— Alexandra and Kawhia, Oxford North and Rotorua (Tarukenga taking the place of Oxford North as the terminus of the Rotorua coach-service on the extension of the railway), Panmure and St. John's College , Post-office and Railway-station, Bemuera , Botorua and Botoiti, Bussed and Wangaruru, Takahue and Broadwood. Dunedin— Outram and Berwick. Greymouth— Clonmore and Cashmere Bay Invercargill—■ Bluff and Port Pegasus. Thames— Thames, Kuranui and Tararu. Wanganui— Hunterville and Ohingaiti, Marton, Leedstown, Hunterville and Otaera. Wellington — Pahautanui and Horokiwi. In addition to the foregoing, weekly services by four-horse coach between Mangaonoho Bailway-station and Waiouru, and between Pipiriki, Waiouru, and Tokaanu have been established. The latter service is mainly for the benefit of tourists, and connects with the Wanganui Biverservice. The members of the Postal Conference party, numbering thirty-six, were taken up the Wanganui Biver in March last, and journeyed from Pipiriki to Tokaanu in two days by the newlyestablished coach-service. This route, from its scenic attractions, is sure to become a popular one with tourists. On the extension of the railway from Tarukenga to Botorua, and when a fast steamer is placed on Lake Taupo —towards the cost of which the department has agreed to give a subsidy of £150 per annum for three years—the facilities for tourists and others visiting the Hot Lakes will be further improved. The prospect of increased traffic on the Wanganui Biver has induced the contractor to procure another steamer, and to run the service twice a week in the place of weekly The coaches between Pipiriki and Tokaanu, from the commencement of the ensuing tourist season, will also run twice a week. BuiLDINGrS. The new office at Danevirke has been completed and occupied, the post-office and telegraph business having been transferred from the railway-station. The four-dial clock has been placed in the tower of the Invercargill building. The new office at Kaikoura has been completed. The following works have been carried out Auckland—Additions, Te Awamutu office , enlarging Waiuku office, erecting post-office and telephone-room, Kaipara Heads. Napier—Bemoval of stable and enlarging telephone-room. Wanganui—Bepairs and painting, Manaia office, additions and alterations, Waverley office. Wellington —Painting Carterton office, erecting porch and painting, Lower Hutt, altering and repairing office at Otaki. Nelson —Bepairs, Wakapuaka office. Christchurch—Extensive alterations and additions to Ashburton office. Timaru office renovated. Dunedin —Bepairs and alterations, Kaitangata office. Invercargill—Painting and repairs, Bluff office, additions, Biverton office. The alterations to the circulation branch, General Post Office, Wellington, have been carried out. The length of the public lobby has been increased by 15ft., and an entrance from Grey Street provided. The mail-room arrangements have been materially improved—additional space having been secured by the transfer of the letter-carriers to the room built for electric-lighting purposes. Extensive repairs and alterations to the Wanganui office will be put in hand immediately A new office is about to be built at Pahiatua. The Gisborne and New Plymouth offices are to be altered, so as to better provide for the increase of business. New offices are to be erected at Hawera, Stratford, Hastings, Cheviot, Queenstown, and TapanuL Ocean Mail-services. The usual printed papers in connection with the ocean mail-services have been laid before Parliament. The San Francisco service contract terminates in November next. It is proposed to renew the service for another three years. New South Wales is desirous that the service should be continued, and has agreed to renew its subsidy of £4,000 a year