P.—6.

I regret to say that our offer to renew the charter of the " Arawa " was not accepted by the owners, and she is now engaged in a foreign trade. Under the circumstances, therefore, we shall be much obliged if you will kindly secure the consent of the Hon. the Postmaster-General to the "Monowai's" continuing to run in the San Francisco mail-service. I have, &c, T. W. Whitson, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. For Managing Director.

No. 5. The Seobetaey. General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dieectoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Post and Telegraph Department, General Post Office, Sib,— Wellington, 2nd October, 1895. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th ultimo, requesting permission to continue to employ the " Monowai" in the San Francisco mail-service, your company being unable to replace her with the " Arawa "as intended. In reply, I have to inform you that the Postmaster-General has been pleased to approve of your request. I have, &c, The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company W. Geay, Secretary, of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 6. The Secebtaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. [Also to Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney.] Post and Telegraph Department, General Post Office, Sib,— Wellington, 3rd October, 1895. I have the honour to inform you that, as the contractors for the San Francisco mailservice have been unable to renew the charter of the " Arawa," permission has been granted them to continue to employ the " Monowai" in her place. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., W. Gbay, Secretary. Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, California. [Same to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney.]

No. 7. The Managing Diebctoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Seoeetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sib, — Dunedin, sth October, 1895. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your favour of the 2nd instant, and beg that you will thank the Postmaster-General for acceding to our request that the " Monowai " may continue to carry on the San Francisco mail-service. I have, &c, T. W. Whitson, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. For Managing Director.

No. 8. The Secbbtaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Diebctob, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Post and Telegraph Department, General Post Office, Sib,— Wellington, 28th October, 1895. I have the honour to inform you that the Eesident Agent for New Zealand at San Francisco reports [see No. 21] the further late arrival of the " Monowai" at that port on Friday, the 30th August —a day behind time. The protracted voyages of the " Monowai " are the cause of much embarrassment in securing the necessary connection during the United States land-transit to admit of the mails reaching London on time-table dates. It is, of course, after the mails have been landed a day late at San Francisco, only by exceptionally favourable circumstances that this can be done. Seeing that on this occasion the steamer was favoured by having to make only a short stay at Honolulu, on account of the outbreak of cholera there, it appears hopeless to expect that the vessel will be enabled to perform the service with any more satisfaction than at present. Under the circumstances, I should be glad to be informed whether a faster steamer is likely to take the place of the " Monowai," and, if so, at what distance of time. I have, &c, The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company W. Gbay, Secretary, of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

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