F.—6.

Enclosure 2 in No. 22. The Superintendent of Foeeign Mails, Washington, to the Eesident Agent fob New Zealand, San Francisco. Post Office Department, Office of Foreign Mails, Washington, D.C., Sic,— 30th November, 1895. Eeferring to your letter of the 16th instant, asking to be advised whether this department contemplates making arrangements to utilise the fast express train which went into service on the 25th instant from New York to San Francisco, for forwarding across the continent the closed mails for the Australian Colonies received at New York from Great Britain, I have the honour to inform you that the train referred to leaves New York at 1 p.m., and is provided with the necessary equipment for the transmission of all correspondence for San Francisco (including BritishAustralian closed mails), and that all of said correspondence and mails available for despatch at the hour named are required to be forwarded by the train in question. I am, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Eesident Agent for N. M. Beooks, New Zealand, San Francisco, Cal. Superintendent of Foreign Mails.

No 23. The Sbceetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dibbctoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Post and Telegraph Department, General Post Office, Sir,— Wellington, 20th December, 1895. I have the honour to enclose copy of a telegram [not printed], which appeared in the San Francisco Morning Call on the 13th ultimo, relative to an acceleration of the train-service between Chicago and San Francisco. In reporting on the matter the Eesident Agent for the colony in San Francisco states that at present it is only intended to make the change during the winter months. As, however, this is the season during which it is most desirable to make close connection with the mail-steamers, advantage should, if possible, be taken of the saving of time effected by the new service. You will observe that the British mails for the colonies will now arrive at San Francisco on Wednesday at 8.45 p.m., and no doubt arrangements could be made for the steamers to leave immediately thereafter. I shall therefore be obliged if you will communicate with Messrs. Spreckels with the view of having Wednesday substituted for Thursday as the sailing-day whenever the arrival of the mails will render this possible. I have, &c, The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company W. Geay, Secretary. of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 24. The Secebtaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Ebsidbnt Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Post and Telegraph Department, General Post Office, Sic,— Wellington, 20th December, 1895. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of the 14th ultimo, relative to the announcement of an accelerated train-service from Chicago to San Francisco, and the effect of the saving of time on the movements of the mail-steamers to New Zealand. [Mr. Smith's letter of the 14th November, reporting the proposal to start the accelerated service, not printed. See his later one of 11th December, No. 22, announcing the service as established.] If the proposed fast train-service can be relied upon arrangements should be made for the mail-steamers to leave on Thursday morning, and the change advertised. Indeed, if it is considered certain that the connection could always be made on the Wednesday that day should be substituted for Thursday as the sailing-day. Should the Wednesday departure be found practicable, you will perhaps be good enough to notify the change to the Washington Post Office, which will, of course, advise the New York and San Francisco Post Offices. I have written the Union Steam Ship Company, asking that arrangements be made with the Messrs. Spreckels for the Wednesday departure, if this should be found practicable. * sis Hi * * * >;< * I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., W. Geay, Secretary. Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, California.

No. 25. The Managing Dibectob, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sic, — Dunedin, 26th December, 1895. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your favour of the 20th instant suggesting that, in view of the acceleration of the train-service between Chicago and San Francisco, the sailing date of the steamers from San Francisco for Auckland should be made Wednesday

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