F.—6

50

No. 174. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eepeesentative of the CanadianAustbalian Boyal Mail Steamship Oompany, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 21st January, 1898. Will " Aorangi's " late departure from Sydney interfere with her Vancouver sailing?

No. 175. The Bepeesentative of the Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 21st January, 1898. " Aorangi " will sail from Vancouver, time-table date.

No. 176. The Deputy Postmaster-Genebal, Ottawa, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — Post Office Department, Ottawa, Canada, 25th January, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your communication of the 10th ultimo, and of your further communication of the 23rd ultimo, enclosing a copy of the resolutions of the New Zealand Legislature providing for the establishment and maintenance of a service once every four weeks between New Zealand (Auckland) and San Francisco, and a service once in four weeks alternating therewith between New Zealand (Wellington) and Vancouver. In the former of these you inquire as to the speediest route by railway between Vancouver and New York, and as to the latest days and times at which mails from New Zealand should reach Vancouver in order to enable them to connect with the fast Atlantic steamers from New York. In reply, I am to say that the route vid Pasqua, about 1,100 miles east of Vancouver, on the line of the Canadian-Pacific Eailway, and North Portal, in the United States, is, as a rule, the most expeditious route from Vancouver to New York. There is at present only one regular mail-train per day over the Canadian-Pacific Eailway, leaving Vancouver at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and in order to connect with a mail-steamer leaving New York mails should be despatched from Vancouver not less than six days prior to the day appointed for the sailing of the steamer. For example, it is anticipated that the mail which, according to the schedule enclosed in your letter, was to have been despatched from Wellington on the 6th January, due at Vancouver on the 27th January, would, if received at Vancouver in time for the train of the 27th, reach New York vid Pasqua and North Portal in time for the steamer of the 2nd proximo—White Star or American line. In view of the statement made in your letter of the 23rd ultimo, that it is the intention of your department to employ a postal officer on the steamer between Wellington and Vancouver, and of the offer you kindly make to have matter for Canada distributed in such a way as to facilitate its despatch to destination, I shall be happy to forward you by next steamer a distribution-list which may be used for the purpose in question. In the meantime, the distribution of which you have already been advised may be followed. I have, &c, The Postmaster-General, Wellington, E. M. Coulter, New Zealand. Deputy Postmaster-General.

No. 177. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eesident Agent for New Zealand San Francisco. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 10th February, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth ultimo. I note that you are of opinion that the Vancouver mails would gain by being sent vid Montreal. The department, however, before coming to the decision to send them by way of Chicago was strongly advised to favour the latter route, as the journey was said to be about one day shorter than by Montreal. We shall, however, be in a better position to judge on the return of the mail-agent by the " Warrimoo," who was instructed to proceed as far east as Chicago, if necessary, but in any case to go as far as Portal, to learn the nature of the arrangements in operation in connection with the transport of mails, and at the same time to ascertain the best route. It would be of service if you also would kindly look into this matter, and I shall be glad if you will do so, and send me a report. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., W. Gray, Secretary. Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, California.

No. 178. The Hon. the Pebmier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 14th February, 1898. " Aorangi " sailed Saturday. Will leave Vancouver two days late.