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to urge upon Government the desirability of making Wellington a port of call and departure for the mail-service vid San Francisco, and, in reply, to' say that the representations will receive due consideration. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. The Secretary, Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch.

No. 97. The Seceetaey, Chamber of Commerce, Nelson, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Sic,— Nelson, Ist May, 1899. I have the honour, by direction of the Chamber of Commerce, to forward you the following copies of resolutions passed at a recent meeting of that body :— _1. " That the secretary write to the Postmaster-General, urging on the Government the advisability of making Wellington the port of call and departure of the San Francisco mailservice," 2. " That it is the opinion of this Chamber that it is desirable the steamer for Sydney should be timed to leave Wellington so as to connect with the Suez mail-service from Australia."" I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. John P. Haeeis, Secretary.

No. 98. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Seceetaey, Chamber of Commerce, Nelson. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, 4th May, 1899. I have the honour, by direction of the Hon. the Postmaster-General, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Ist instant, forwarding copy of resolutions passed at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, Nelson, urging that Wellington should be made the port of call and departure of the San Francisco mail-service, and that the steamer leaving Wellington for Sydney should be timed to connect with the Suez mail-service from Australia. I have, &c, The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Nelson. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 99. The Seceetaey, Chamber of Commerce, Stratford, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Deab Sic,— Stratford, 22nd May, 1899. I am directed by the executive of the Chamber of Commerce, Stratford, to forward you copy of resolution passed at their last meeting, as follows : " That this Chamber join in protesting against the proposed diversion of the San Francisco mail-service from Auckland to Wellington, and that copy of resolution be forwarded to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the PostmasterGeneral." I have, &c, J. Bullee Baeleyman, Hon. Secretary. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

No. 100. The Seceetaey, Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sic, — Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, 23rd May, 1899. I am directed by the committee of this Chamber to draw your attention to the serious inconvenience caused to merchants and business-men generally by the delivery of the San Francisco mails on the last two occasions almost immediately before the closing of the same outgoing mail, and to respectfully ask whether this cannot be avoided in future. The committee also consider that there was unnecessary delay at New Plymouth in despatching the last outgoing mail, and would be pleased if you would kindly favour them with your views on the above matters. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. H. Antill Adley, Secretary.

No. 101. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Seceetaey, Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 31st May, 1899. I have the honour to refer to your letter of the 23rd instant, in connection with the delivery in Christchurch of the last two mails via San Francisco immediately before the closing of the return mail, and alleging delay at New Plymouth to the last outgoing mail. I shall be glad to be informed, with regard to the last paragraph of your letter, what is really inferred, as I am unaware of any delay at New Plymouth which could reasonably be taken exception to. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. The Secretary, Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch