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instead of Thursday, as at present. By the outgoing mail I sent a copy of your letter to Messrs. Spreckels and Brothers, and I am sure that if your suggestion can be acted upon they will view it favourably; but, of course, they, being on the spot, are in a better position than we are to say whether or not it would be advisable to adopt the change. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., T. W. Whitson, Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. For Managing Director.

No. 26. The Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — San Francisco, 9th January, 1896. Eeverting to my communication of the 11th ultimo, I have the honour to report that, as a result of correspondence with Messrs. J. D. Spreckels and Brothers, agents for the contractors in this city, I have obtained their consent to despatch the contract steamer conveying the outward British and United States mails from this port at midnight upon such date as the final instalment of mail shall arrive here upon Wednesday evening. Since then, however, I have ascertained, by telegraphic communication with the New York agents of the Cunard Steam Ship Company (whose vessels usually convey the outward mails across the Atlantic), that the B.M.S. " Aurania " is appointed to leave Liverpool upon the dates arranged for the despatch of the colonial mails from that port—up to and including the 16th May, 1896. This steamer being a notoriously slow vessel I have not deemed it necessary to press for any alteration in the advertised dates of departure from this port, as, under these circumstances, it is extremely improbable that even with the acceleration of speed of the overland transit the final instalment of through mails will be received before Thursday evening. It is much to be regretted that the action of the Cunard Company, in arranging their winter time-table so as to cause the " Umbria " to convey the Australian mails, should deprive us of the advantage of the increased speed in overland carriage. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., H. Stephenson Smith, Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington, N.Z. Eesident Agent.

No. 27. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir, — Dunedin, 10th January, 1896. Eeferring to your communication of the 20th ultimo, regarding the acceleration of the trainservice in America probably permitting the mail-steamers to leave San Francisco for Auckland a day earlier than at present, I enclose for your information copy of a letter received from Messrs. Spreckels and Brothers by this mail bearing upon the same subject. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., T. W. Whitson, Secretary General Post Office, Wellington. For Managing Director. Enclosure in No. 27. The J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company, San Francisco, to the Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Dear Sir, — San Francisco, 9th December, 1895. Our telegraphic advices of the steamer bringing Australian mails for despatch by the s.s. " Monowai" were received this morning, and read as follows: First one from Fire Island, to the effect that the s.s. " Etruria " south of Fire Island at 8.55 p.m., Saturday, 7th December. Later message, dated 11 p.m.: " ' Etruria's' mails will reach wharf about 1.30 a.m., Sunday, Bth December." The Post Office advised us that the mails were despatched from New York at 9.30 yesterday morning, Sunday, Bth December, which, according to the new schedule of train service, will bring the mails here on the evening of the 12th, at 8.45 ; we accordingly look for the sailing of the " Monowai " between 8.45 p.m. and midnight on the 12th. Were it not for this recently expedited train-service the mails would not have arrived here before Friday morning, the 13th, and the " Monowai's " hour of sailing would be 2 p.m. We notice by the sailing of the Cunard line that the " Etruria " will be on the course to bring the next Australian mail for despatch by the s.s. " Alameda," and in February it will be the " Umbria," and in March probably the "Umbria" again. But no steamer is advertised for the sailing from Liverpool, 22nd February. In event the " Campania " and " Lucania " are returned to this course, as was the case last year, it is more than likely that Wednesday will be a possible sail-ing-day from here, as intimated to you some time ago; that is, if the present running overland train is continued. For instance, when the steamer arrives ia New York too late for the despatch by the

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