12

F.—6

I note that the change will allow of the fast steamers of the Cunard line being still used for the Atlantic transit. My letter of the 31st ultimo contains a copy of your acknowledgment of my further telegram of the 10th idem, instructing you that the change was to begin with this month's mail from London. I have, &c, J G Ward, W B. Perceval, Esq., Agent-General for New Zealand, London. For the Premier

No. 47 The Chaibman, Chamber of Commerce, Auckland, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal. (Telegram. Auckland, Bth September, 1893. Chambeb still of opinion that the colony would be better served with the ten days between arrival and departure than the twenty-one proposed at present. There is no difficulty in delivering mails in Otago in three days. Allow four for either way this would give two clear days for Otago. This should be ample for all commercial requirements, and is the time allowed Auckland under present arrangements. Trust you reconsider your decision and fall in with our views.

No 48. The Hon. the Postmastee-Genebal to the Chaibman, Chamber of Commerce, Auckland. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, 18th September, 1893. I have the honour to refer to your telegram of the Bth instant, in continuation of previous correspondence in connection with the change of sailing-day of the San Francisco mail-steamers, in which you reiterate the opinion of your Chamber that an interval of ten days between the arrival and despatch of the San Francisco mail-steamers from Auckland would serve the whole colony better than the recently revised time-table. In reply, I much regret that I am unable to see my way to vary the new time-table in the direction desired. Altogether apart from the fact that the proposed variation would practically shut out replies from New South Wales, I cannot concur in the view that two clear days should be sufficient for replies to be sent from Dunedin. Even were the time sufficient, it would be unreasonable to exclude the important country centres throughout the southern portion of the colony from the privilege of replying to their letters by the first return mail. It appears also to have been overlooked by your Chamber that, so long as the New South Wales Government continues to contribute to the subsidy for the service, the interests of that colony must be considered. I would remind you that the new time-table is practically a reversion to that which was in existence for some years prior to 1891, and that the reason for the change from that time-table to the one which has just been rearranged was made solely with the object of taking advantage of the swiftest vessels on the Atlantic for the Homeward transit of our mails. I have, &c, J G Ward, Postmaster-General. Adam Porter, Esq., Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, Auckland.

No. 49. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Pbemieb. Westminister Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— 18th August, 1893. Referring to your cablegram copy herewith) of the 10th instant, I beg to transmit copy of correspondence with the General Post Office, by which it will be seen that that department has arranged to despatch to New Zealand mails via San Francisco a week later I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W B. Peeceval.

Enclosure 1 m No. 49 The Agent-Genebal to the Secebtaby, General Post Office, London. Sib, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W 10th August, 1893. Eeferring to my letter of the 7th July last, and to your reply of the 18th of that month, I beg to state that I have received a cablegram from my Government, instructing me to inform your department that it has been arranged to despatch the New Zealand mails vid San Francisco from London a week later commencing on the 9th September next, and on every fourth Saturday thereafter , and to request you to give this arrangement proper effect so far as your department is concerned. i I am also to state, for the information of your department, that there will be no change in the date of the mails leaving the colony for this country • T have, &c, Walteb Kennaway, For the Agent-General. The Secretary to the General Post Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand.