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No. 18. The Seceetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dibectob, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Post and Telegraph Department, General Post Office, g IE _ Wellington, 23rd May, 1896. Eeferring to my letter of the 30th ultimo, I am directed by the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral to inform you that the question of further subsidising, and extending the contract term of, the San Francisco mail-service has been submitted to Cabinet, which has decided that no change is'to be made in the existing arrangements. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 19. The Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. g IE San Francisco, California, 24th July, 1895. I have the honour to report that advices have been received from New York to the effect that the outward colonial mails from Great Britain reached New York by the Cunard steamer " Campania" on Friday, the 19th instant, and were forwarded that day by the express tram for the Pacific Coast, due to arrive here on Wednesday morning. On receipt of this information lat once communicated with Messrs. J. D. Spreckels and Bros, to ascertain if it were possible to accelerate the departure of the E.M.S. " Alameda " now in this port. From the fact, however that they have given wide notification by advertisement in the Eastern States and United Kingdom of the hour and date of departure from San Francisco they were unable to see their way clear to make a departure prior to the advertised day and hour. I therefore impressed upon them the necessity of instructing the master of the E.M.S. " Alameda " to use all possible expedition on the voyage, so that if possible, the colonies might receive some benefit from the twenty-four hours saved in the transit to this city. This request they agreed to grant, and I think it may be anticipated that the mails will be delivered in Auckland on Wednesday prior to the due contract date. Trusting my actions in this matter will meet with your approval, and that you will instruct me fully as to whether any other arrangements can be made in connection with the probable earlier arrivals during the summer months. I have, &c., W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, H. Stephenson Smith, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington, New Zealand. Eesident Agent.

No. 20. The Seceetaky, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Besident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Post and Telegraph Department, General Post Office, q _ Wellington, sth September, 1895. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of the 24th July last, advising me of the efforts made by you in endeavouring to accelerate the despatch of the outward San Francisco mails by the E.M.S. "Alameda," and to inform you, in reply, that the vessel arrived at Auckland one day before contract time. Yours, &c H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., W. Geay, Secretary. Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco.

No. 21. The Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Seceetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, a _ San Francisco, 18th September, 1895. I have the honour to report that the E.M.S. " Monowai," conveying the homeward colonial mails, reached this port late on the afternoon of Friday, the 30th August, and by considerable despatch the postal authorities were enabled to catch the afternoon express leaving at 6 o clock that evening the mails reaching New York on the following Wednesday morning, and succeeding m making a connection with the steamer "St. Louis" for Southampton. This vessel, having been reported passing Land's End late on the 11th instant, would probably make the London connection on the contract date. The Irish portion of these mails was despatched by the White Star Line from New York on the 4th instant, arriving at Queenstown on the 10th. As pointed out, the protracted voyages made by the " Monowai cause some embarrassment at this end, as it is only by exceptionally favourable circumstances that they have been enabled to catch the Wednesday despatch from New York. As the " Monowai" on this occasion did not make any stay at Honolulu, it probably would not have landed the mails m London until arrival of the boats leaving New York on the 7th September had the ordinary time been given at Honolulu.