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No. 35. The Managing Dieectok, Union Steam Ship Company, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sic,— Dunedin, 10th March, 1896. Referring to you,r favour of the 20th December on the subject of an accelerated train-service between Chicago and San Francisco, as mentioned at the time, we passed on a copy of your remarks to Messrs. J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company, and by the last mail we received their reply, as follows: " Mail-service: We note the suggestion of the Secretary of the General Post Office that the day of sailing from here be changed to Wednesday. The same suggestion was made to us by the Resident Agent for New Zealand here. We talked over the matter with him, but nothing was done, for the reason that we found that the mails were not likely to get here before Thursday, as they are now carried across the Atlantic by a slower steamer, the ' Umbria,' in consequence of which they have not reached here until Friday, this month or last; besides which, we understand that the accelerated train-service will only continue during the winter months. Of course, if it should be continued longer, and quicker time should be made across the Atlantic, we will take up the matter again, but at present we do not consider it advisable to make any change in the schedule." From which you will gather that they do not consider it advisable meantime to make any change in the sailing-day from San Francisco. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., T. W. Whitson, Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. For Acting General Manager.

No. 36. The Seceetaky, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dieectoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Post and Telegraph Department, General Post Office, Sic,— Wellington, 19th March, 1896. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, enclosing the reply of the J. D. Spreekels and Brothers Company to the representations which you conveyed to them on my letter of the 20th December last, in the matter of an accelerated train-service between Chicago and San Francisco. I notice that the Messrs. Spreckels deprecate any change from the present day of sailing from San Francisco. Since I wrote you the Agent-General has been also written to, and asked again to represent to the London Post Office the disabilities attached to the use of the slower class of steamers for the conveyance of the Colonial mails to New York; and I hope it may yet be possible, as a result of the Agent-General's action, to announce that the mails will leave San Francisco a day earlier than at present. I have, &c, The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company W. Geay, Secretary. of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 37. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Seceetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Sic, — San Francisco, 31st March, 1896. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the sth of February, referring to the midnight despatch of mail-steamers from this port when necessary, and further informing me that representations had been made to the London Post Office, through the Agent-General, regarding the desirability of the colonial mails being despatched by the fastest steamer of the week. In this connection I would report that the outward mails ex " Aurania " passed Chicago yesterday morning, and should arrive at 8.45 p.m. of Thursday. I have therefore requested Messrs. Spreckels and Brothers to hold the " Alameda " in readiness to proceed immediately upon receipt of the mails, and I anticipate her departure at midnight on Thursday. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., H. Stephenson Smith, Secretary to the General Post Office, Wellington. Resident Agent.

No. 38. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Sib, — San Francisco, 31st March, 1896. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 6th February, 1896, stating that it had been rumoured that the January mails from here did not receive the utmost despatch at New York upon their arrival from Europe. In reply, I would state that from inquiries made I gather that the mails in question did not arrive at the wharf at New York until past 1 p.m. of the sth of January, and as the fast express leaves promptly to the minute it was impossible to catch the 1 o'clock despatch. I would mention that the railway depot of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad is about one hour's journey from the steamship dock. I shall ■endeavour to keep you informed of all cases where any delay is caused to the transit of through mails either by land or sea. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., H. Stephenson Smith, Secretary to the General Post Office, Wellington, New Zealand. Resident Agent.