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nection with a Hamburg-American steamer It does not seem the right thing to have the mail despatched by a slow steamer when a fast steamer is running on some other route , and a man in London could keep track of a matter of this kind, and it would not necessarily be expensive, as an agent of the Union Steam Ship Company in London would look after it without compensation were he authorized to do so. It seems too bad that, when the mail is despatched by a slow steamer across the Atlantic, we are unable to protest against it, and I should think, from your side, it could be effected by some simple arrangement through you. These are merely remarks by the way, and I trust the perusal of them will not be uninteresting. I have, &c, W Gray, Esq., General Post Office, New Zealand. L. F Cockboft.

No. 52. The J D. Speeckels and Beothees Company, San Francisco, to the Hon. the PostmasteeGeneeal, Wellington. Deae Sic, — San Francisco, 22nd September, 1893. The "Alameda" sails to-day twenty-four hours late on account of the detention of the mails in New York, same having come over by the ' Etruria." On the 16th we received a despatch from the-manager of the Telegraph Company in New York to the effect that the mails of the steamer " New York" landed at 2.30 p.m., that the " Etruria" would land probably at 6.30. Had the mails come by the steamer " New York " of the Inman Line, they would have been able to leave here on Thursday, whereas, in coming by the " Etruria," they arrived about an hour too late for the despatch by the evening train. This is an instance in point relative to which we have previously written you. We trust that it may be possible to arrange with the London Post Office to send the mails by the quickest outgoing steamer on the day they are transmitted. Can your department bring any pressure to bear to that end ? It is desirable to make our service as expeditious as possible, and a little attention in this direction will be of much advantage to us. Very truly, &c, J t> Speeokels and Beothees Company. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

No. 53. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to Mr Cockeoft, San Francisco. My Deae Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, sth October, 1893. I am in receipt of yours of the 22nd July, which I was unable to acknowledge last month. I am much obliged for the hints anent the despatch of the London mails, and have suggested to the Postmaster-General that representations to the Agent-General on the lines indicated by you should be made. In any case an endeavour will be made to obviate the delay which now takes place at Queenstown, but I think it is almost too much to expect that we would be able to make Wednesday the regular sailing-day from San Francisco. You would have already learned of the appointment of Mr Smith, vice Mr Creighton. I return you Mr Backus' certificate. Believe me, &c, L.'F Cockroft, Esq., 327, Market Street, San Francisco. W Geay

No 54. The Seceetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the J D. Spbeokels and Beothees Company, San Francisco. Gentlemen — General Post Office, Wellington, 20th October, 1893. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd ultimo, bringing under notice that, owing to the San Francisco mail of September being despatched from London by the steamer " Etruria instead of the " New York," it had arrived at New York too late to connect with the evening train for San Francisco, and in consequence the sailing of the steamer " Alameda " had been delayed twenty-four hours, and asking this department to arrange with the London Post Office to forward mails for New Zealand, via San Francisco, by the quickest outgoing steamer on the day they are transmitted. I have, &c, W Geay, Secretary The J D. Spreckels and Brothers Company, 327, Market Street, San Francisco.

No. 55. The Besident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Sbcbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Deae Sic, — San Francisco, California, 15th December, 1893. I returned yesterday from a visit to Chicago, New York, and Washington, and upon my return received your communication of the 2nd November [not printed, but see No. 17], and note that the service has been extended another year on the same terms as formerly.