F.—6

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the sailing-day of the steamers from San Francisco, and suggesting that early arrangements be made for altering the sailing-day to Wednesday when the fast Atlantic steamers resume running. In reply, I have to inform you that the need for changing the dates of departure from San Francisco will receive early consideration should this be necessary. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., W. Gray, Secretary. Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, California.

No. 105. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — San Francisco, Bth December, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 16th October last [not printed].... In reference to the question of the connection at New York of the colonial homeward mails with the fast steamers of the trans-Atlantic service, I would state that the fast steamers of the International Navigation and White Star lines are appointed to leave New York on Wednesday mornings, and those of the Cunard Steamship Company on Saturday mornings. This has been the custom for years, and I do not think there is any disposition at present to alter existing arrangements. There is also a fast steamer of the North German Lloyds appointed to leave New York on Tuesday morning, but, as this vessel only lea.yes every four weeks, it is too uncertain to take into consideration. If it were possible to so arrange the arrival of the New Zealand steamer as to make this port in time to connect with the 6 p.m. train from this port on Monday evening, the mails would go through and connect with the fast Cunarder on the Saturday following, and no delay would occur. Under the present time-table the mails are invariably detained twenty-four hours in New York. Should, however, the steamer fail to connect with the Monday evening train from here, there would be no opportunity to leave New York for two, and perhaps three, days. It would be advisable, before any arrangements were made looking to a Monday arrival at this port, to definitely ascertain from the Cunard Company whether the steamer " Campania" or the " Lucania " will be available to convey the outward mails from Liverpool to New York ; otherwise the full benefit of a Saturday departure from New York would not be realised. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Resident Agent.

No. 106. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office. Wellington. Sir, — San Francisco, 3rd February, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 23rd December last [see No. 51], enclosing pro forma time-table of the mail-services between San Francisco and between Vancouver and the colonies ; also the printed resolution passed by the New Zealand Parliament in connection therewith, all of which have my attention. I have also to acknowledge receipt of your cablegram of the 12th January, reading: [See No. 75]. Upon receipt of these advices I at once communicated with the postal authorities both at Washington and at San Francisco, giving details of the proposed changes rendered necessary by the new arrangements. I note from the time-table just received from the Cunard Steamship Company that the "Lucania" and "Campania" are listed to leave London on the dates appointed for the despatch of the mails both via Vancouver and via San Francisco. There will therefore be an even chance of the due dates of departure from Pacific ports being maintained, notwithstanding that there are yet remaining two months of winter. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Resident Agent. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington.

No. 107. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — San Francisco, Ist March, 1898. In connection with the late change in the day of departure of mail-steamers from this port, I have the honour to enclose for your information copies of correspondence lately passing between this office and the Superintendent of Foreign Mails at Washington. In reference to this matter, I would state that, owing to the inclement weather generally prevailing on the Atlantic during the months of March and April, it is not probable that any earlier departure than Thursday will be made during that period. I am, however, unable to follow out Mr. Brooke's statements, as the mails arriving here on the 9th March will reach New York, if no delay occurs, on the 14th ; and if the return mail leaves that city on the 19th, five days later, they will connect with the steamer leaving this port on the 23rd, The time between New York and