F—6

31

Enclosure 2 in No. 108. The Postmasteb, New York, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. (Telegram.) New York, 28th November, 1898. Last instalment Australian mails from this office misconnected. Leaves Chicago this afternoon. Important mail. Hold steamer if possible. [" Moana " detained : sailed Ist December.]

Enclosure 3 in No. 108. The Postmasteb, New York, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. (Telegram.) New York, 29th November, 1898. Many thanks. Twenty-six sacks. Important American business mail.

No. 109. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Peemiee. (Telegram.) London, 13th December, 1898. San Feancisco Vancouver services : It is very important if it can be arranged so that they may be delivered New York three hours earlier. Will communicate with Camerons with the object of endeavouring to arrange accordingly.

No. 110. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, Sa.n Francisco, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sic, — Resident Agency for New Zealand, San Francisco, 27th December, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 10th November, with enclosures [see No. 12 i, informing me of the passing by the House of Representatives of a resolution authorising the Government to extend the San Francisco and Vancouver mail-services for one year from the Ist April, 1899; and, further, that the department was in communication with the shipping companies on the subject. I have also the honour to enclose herewith memoranda received from various divisions of the United States railway mail-service relative to the misconnection of a portion of the outward mail for the colonies, causing the detention of the mail-steamer at this port in October last; also a communication from the New York office in explanation of the causes operating to occasion a similar delay in the departure of the December outward mails. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Resident Agent. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

Enclosure 1 in No. 110. The Besident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Supebintendent, Bailway Mail-service, Chicago. Sic, — Besident Agency for New Zealand, San Francisco, 10th November, 1898. I have the honour to request that you will be good enough to inform me, if it is in your power, of the cause of the detention of some twenty-five sacks of mail destined to New Zealand ports and other ports of the Pacific on or about the 2nd October [for despatch "by " Alameda :" sailed 6th October]. Inquiries are being made in reference to the delay which detained the contract steamer some twelve hours, and, if possible, I desire to be in a position to give an intelligent explanation of the circumstance. I have endeavoured to obtain this information from Mr. Thall at this end, but as he states that the delay occurred prior to the mails reaching his division he is not in a position to give the information sought. I therefore again trespass upon your usual kind attention in the matter. Begretting troubling you, I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, , Besident Agent for New Zealand. L. L. Troy, Esq., Superintendent, Bailway Mail-service, Chicago.

Enclosure 2 in No. 110. The Supebintendent, Bailway Mail-service, New York, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Railway Mail-service, Office of Superintendent, New York, (Memorandum.) Ist December, 1898. In reply to yours of the 10th ultimo, addressed to Superintendent Troy, at Chicago, in reference to'delay to certain British-Australian mails which detained the steamer, I have to state that the, mail did not all arrive at the Grand Central Station in New York from the pier in time for despatch; apparently through no one's fault, but rather because of the delayed arrival of the steamer " Etruria," and the quantity of mail carried being so heavy that it could not all be transferred to the station before the departure of the train. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., V. J. Bbadley, Superintendent, Besident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco,