¥.— 6

16

No. 42. The Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, Ist January, 1895. Ec Vancouver Mr Cook would like to know whether you expect for the ten thousand a calendar monthly or four-weekly service.

No 43. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmasteb-Genebal, Sydney (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 3rd January 1895. Vancouveb. Four-weekly This would secure the fortnightly service favoured by the Conference.

No. 44. The Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney 4th January, 1895. Be Vancouver service. No objection to consider proposal for deviating to Auckland, provided no extra cost to us.

No. 45. The Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Sydney (Telegram.) Wellington, sth January, 1895. Vancouveb service. Should be glad if you would now ascertain whether contractors are willing for a subsidy of ten thousand a year to run main boats four-weekly by way of Auckland or Wellington. Steamers to call at Samoa as well as Honolulu, and time between New Zealand and Vancouver not to exceed twenty-one days. I hope it may be possible to do it in less. This should be practicable if average speed of fifteen and half knots an hour is maintained, as stipulated for under clause two of your agreement. First-class passage for mail agent to be provided, as well as accommodation for sorting mails. Generally main provisions of San Francisco contract, so far as applicable, to apply Your agreement of 10th October, 1893, with Mr Huddart, may in a general way be accepted as basis of negotiations. This colony, of course, to have voice in determining passenger and cargo rates, and to have equal preference with yourselves for cargo space.

No. 46. The Seceetabt, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 12th January, 1895. I have now the honour to enclose copy of telegrams exchanged between our respective colonies in reference to the proposal for the steamers of the Sydney-Vancouver mail-service to call at New Zealand. The Hon. Mr. Ward hopes that it will be possible to arrange for the main steamers of the service to call at either Auckland or Wellington as well as Samoa, on the conditions and for the payment proposed in his telegram of the sth instant. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney W Geay, Secretary

No. 47 The Hon. the Peemiee to the Agent-Geneeal. Sic, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 17th January, 1895. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum of the 3rd November last, transmitting copy of a letter received by you from Mr James Huddart, proposing a mailservice direct from New Zealand to Fiji in connection with the service between Sydney and Vancouver. There is now a probability of the mail contractors for the Vancouver service agreeing to run their main steamers via New Zealand—touching at either Wellington or Auckland—as well as Samoa. The New South Wales Government is prepared to favourably consider the proposal, and has undertaken to negotiate with the Huddart-Parker Company on behalf of this colony A fourweekly service has been asked for, so as to alternate with the San Francisco service, and a subsidy of £10,000 will be paid in the event of New Zealand being made a calling-place. I have, &c, J G. Waed, For the Premier Sir Westby B. Perceval, K.G.M.G., Agent-General for New Zealand, London.