F.—6

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No. 191. The Seoeetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 6th June, 1898. Vancouver service : Unaware any understanding that deviation to Wellington would only lengthen voyage twenty-four hours to and from Sydney. Eve days Wellington-Sydney inserted in timetable at request of Mr. Grayson, who represented that four days insufficient after allowing for discharging and coaling here.

No. 192. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the President, Canadian Pacific Eailway Company, Montreal. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 6th June, 1898. I have the honour to tender to your company the thanks of this department for having detained the overland train at Vancouver on the 23rd April last for the colonial mails by the E.M.S. " Warrimoo," thus enabling them to reach New York in time to catch the s.s. " Umbria" from that port on the 30th idem. Your action is much appreciated. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. The President, Canadian Pacific Eailway Company, Montreal, Canada.

No. 193. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Manager, Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Wellington. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 6th June, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant [not printed], advising the reason for the delay to the E.M.S. " Miowera " at Sydney on her present voyage. It was a matter for extreme regret that there should again have been need to interfere with the regular sailing of the Sydney-Vancouver contract steamers, and I trust that the present case will be the last of the irregular sailings. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. The Manager, Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Wellington.

No. 194. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 11th June, 1898. Vancouver service : Agent, San Francisco, instructed accompany " Miowera's " mails to New York, endeavour to ascertain what causes delay, and prevent hereafter. In January mail-agent travelled to Chicago with mails, United States Post Office undertaking prompt despatch onward.

No. 195. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Mail-agent, s.s. "Miowera," Vancouver. (Telegram.) General Post Office, Wellington, 14th June, 1898. See that mails not delayed overland New York. " Aorangi's " mails arrived Vancouver day early ; London three days late. Previous month's mail also delayed. Inquire.

LIQUIDATION OF CANADIAN - AUSTEALIAN E.M.S. COMPANY. PAYMENT OF SUBSIDY. No. 196. The Local Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Sir,— Wellington, 14th January, 1898. I beg to inform you that the General Manager of this company has received cable advice from the London manager that a petition has been presented to the Court for an order to wind up the Canadian-Australian Steamship Company, and that thereafter the New Zealand Shipping Company will continue the service without interruption, in conjunction with the mortgagee. I am instructed to ask for your cordial co-operation in the meantime, and to request that no subsidies under the mail contract shall be paid until new arrangements are completed. I am, &c, Henry Eose, W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Local Manager. [See also Enclosure 2 in No. 134.]