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Enclosure 1 in No. 121. The Agent-Genebal to the Seceetaby, General Post Office, London. Sib,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 23rd November, 1897. Referring to my letter of the 6th April last, and to your reply thereto of the 17th August last [see Enclosures 1 and 2 in No. 1, F.-6a, 1897], T beg leave to inquire, for the information of my Government, whether, pending the establishment of a fast connecting Atlantic service, the Imperial Post Office will be prepared to pay Postal Union sea-rates for the conveyance of mails between Vancouver and New Zealand in case my Government agree to subsidise such service. As my Government are anxious to obtain a reply to this inquiry as soon as possible, I shall be much obliged if you will give the matter your consideration at your earliest convenience. I am, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, E.C. W. P. Reeves.

Enclosure 2 in No. 121. The Seceetaky, General Post Office, London, to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— General Post Office, E. 0., 9th December, 1897. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd of last month, in which you inquire whether, pending the establishment of a fast Atlantic connecting service, this office would be prepared to pay (presumably to the Post Office of New Zealand) Postal Union sea-rates for the conveyance of mails between Vancouver and New Zealand in case the Government of that colony agreed to subsidise such service. In reply, I am to inform you that, in respect of the correspondence for Fiji and Australia which is already sent hence vid Vancouver, the full Union rates for land and sea transit are paid by this department to the Canadian Post Office, as that office subsidises the Canadian-Australian Steamship Company, and is therefore entitled to receive the payment referred to. The same course would be applicable in the case of any mails for New Zealand which might be forwarded by the Canadian-Australian line, unless any arrangement to the contrary were made between the Canadian and New Zealand Governments. In case such an arrangement should be arrived at, the Postmaster-General would be glad to learn the result of it. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. H. Buxton Foeman.

No. 122. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Peemieb. (Telegram.) London, 10th December, 1897. In reply to your telegram of 23rd November, Imperial Post Office will arrange to pay Postal Union sea-rates.

No. 123. The Agent-Genbeal to the Hon. the Peemieb. (Telegram.) London, 22nd December, 1897. With reference to telegram 10th, Huddart shows letter Colonial Office, indicating Imperial Post Office intends paying Postal Union sea-rates Vancouver-New Zealand to Canadian Government unless it has been arranged otherwise.

No. 124. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Peemiee. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,— 24th December, 1897. Referring to my letter of the 10th instant, enclosing copy of letter from the Imperial Post Office relating to the payment of Postal Union sea-rates as regards the Vancouver mail-service to New Zealand, I beg to transmit herewith copy of correspondence between the Colonial Office and Mr. Huddart, which appears to indicate that, unless some arrangement is made to the contrary, the Imperial Post Office will pay to the Canadian Government the Postal Union sea-rates in the case of any mails for New Zealand which may be forwarded by the Vancouver route. According, however, to a letter (copy herewith) received by me from Mr. Huddart, it would appear that his company expects to receive the amount of these Union sea-rates as part payment for carrying the mails from Vancouver to New Zealand. In the absence, therefore, of particulars of the arrangements made by the Government, I deemed it right to acquaint you by cablegram [see No. 123] of what appeared to be the understanding on this side, as, if the sea-rates paid by the Imperial Post Office on account of the New Zealand mails are first paid to the Canadian Government, it will, I assume, be necessary that arrangements be made so that the amounts thus received may eventually be paid over to the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company. I have, &c, The Hon the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Reeves.

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