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I have to thank you for the information contained therein, and also for the extract from the New York Herald, showing the proposed re-adjustment of the United States tariff, which was submitted to the Postmaster-General. The questions of an increased contribution to the San Francisco Service by the United States, and of the excessive overland transit-charges between San Francisco and New York, are to be brought up for further consideration at the Intercolonial Postal Conference to be held in Wellington on the sth March next. I have, &c, W Geay, Secretary H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, California.

No. 59 The Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir.— San Francisco, California, 6th February, 1894. I have the honour to report for your information that the E.M.S.S. " Monowai" did not reach this port until about 5.30 p.m. on Friday, 19th January On receipt of telegraphic information of the approach of this vessel, I at once placed myself in communication with the Southern Pacific Eailroad of this city, in an endeavour to detain the departure of the overland train for New York, and succeeded in obtaining their consent to hold train for an hour It was not necessary, however, to avail ourselves of this courtesy, as by the prompt and energetic action of the postal authorities of this city, superintended by Mr. Cooper, we were able to catch the 6 o'clock departure. As I ascertained that this mail could not arrive in New York before 10.30 of the 24th, and that the steamer " New York," of the International Navigation Company, and the " Majestic," of the White Star Company, were advertised to leave at 8.30 a.m. of that day, I deemed it wise to endeavour to detain one of these vessels for a couple of hours in order to make the connection, and thus avoid detention of mails until the following Saturday To this end I sent several telegrams, and had some hope that I could have effected this connection, but for reasons which at present writing I am not informed of the steamship company was not able to accede to my request. I am of the opinion, however, that the necessity of these vessels (which are of very deep draught) proceeding to sea at top of high water was the governing cause for their non-compliance with my request. These mails, however, were forwarded by the North German Lloyd's steamer " Saale, leaving in the afternoon of the same day, which did not reach Southampton until the 2nd instant, two days after contract date, the steamer " New York " arriving two days previously I trust my action in reference to this matter may be approved. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, W Gray, Esq., General Post Office, Wellington. Eesident Agent.

No. 60. The Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secbbtaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sic, — San Francisco, California, 6th February 1894. I have the honour to direct the attention of the department to the almost uniform detention at this port of the steamers conveying the outward mails to the colonies. I enclose a schedule of the departures of these vessels from San Francisco during \ha past two years [not printed], from which you will note that only on two occasions (in the summer of 1893}j have the boats departed on contract date and the Monowai," appointed to leave on the Bth instant, will be delayed in order to convey the first portion of mails from Europe until the 11th instant. The steamer " Mariposa " was delayed until 2.15 p.m of Saturday on her last trip, and, should the contractors enforce the penalty for detention above thirty-six hours provided for in the contract, there will be some £60 sterling due them. * * -\< * * # * * if I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, W Gray, Bsq , Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Eesident Agent.

No. 61 The Hon. the Pbemiee, Queensland, to the Hon. the Peemieb, New Zealand. Sic, — Chief Secretary's Office, Brisbane, 14th February, 1894. Eeferring to the resolution adopted by the Post and Telegraph Conference held in Brisbane in March, 1893 [see F.-4, 1893, p. 24] directing that a communication should be sent to the Postmaster-General, Washington, regretting the non-participation of the United States in the matter of the subsidy to the present San Francisco mail-service, and calling attention to the excessive overland transit rates between San Francisco and New York. I have the honour to

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