F.—6

2

No. 2. The Managing Dieectoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sib,— Dunedin, 20th October, 1898. Clause 7 of the draft San Francisco mail contract provides for mail-steamers being exempt from harbour-dues, &c. I shall be much obliged if you will advise the Auckland Harbour Board to this effect, as so far they are charging the mail-steamers, and we are making application to them for refunds. I have, &c, T. W. Whitson, for Managing Director. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 3. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Seceetaey, Auckland Harbour Board, Auckland. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd October, 1898. The Managing Director of the Union Steam Ship Company having brought under notice that your Board is charging the steamers employed in the San Francisco mail-service with harbourdues, &c, I have the honour to inform you that, as the terms of the contract provide that the mailsteamers shall be exempt from dues, the Union Steam Ship Company is entitled to a refund of any amount paid on that account. The exemption is provided by section 132 of "The Harbours Act, 1878." And in the same connection I would remind you of your Board's resolutions of the 2nd November, 1897, copy of which you were good enough to forward to me on the 3rd idem. [See No. 13, F.-6, 1898.] I have, &c, The Secretary, Auckland Harbour Board, Auckland. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 4. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dieectoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd October, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, asking that the Auckland Harbour Board might be advised that your San Francisco mail-steamers were exempt from harbour-dues, &c, and to inform you that the Board has been informed accordingly. I have, &c, The Managing Director, W. Geay, Secretary. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 5. The Acting-Seceetaey, Auckland Harbour Board, Auckland, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sib, — Auckland, 2nd November, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd ultimo, in reference to harbour-dues for the San Francisco mail-steamers, and, in reply, beg to inform you that your letter was read at a meeting of the Board held yesterday, when I was directed to thank you for the information, and to request that you will please supply me with the exact dates for the contract. I have, &c, M. H. Laied, Acting-Secretary. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 6. extbact feom the jotjenals of the house op bepeesentatives op thuesday, the 3ed Day of Novembee, 1898. Besolution relative to the San Francisco and Vancouver Mail-services. Wheeeas the House of Bepresentatives, by resolutions passed on the 13th December, 1897, authorised the Government to extend the San Francisco mail-service for a period of twelve months from the 31st March, 1898, and to establish a four-weekly mail-service between New Zealand and Vancouver, British Columbia, by way of Fiji and Honolulu, from the Ist December, 1897, to the 31st March, 1899, on the terms and conditions set out in the said resolutions : And whereas the Government gave effect to the said resolutions by extending the San Francisco service contract and establishing a mail-service between Wellington and Vancouver, and,