F.—6A

1899. NEW ZEALAND.

OCEAN MAIL-SERVICES (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO). [In continuation of Paper F.-6, presented on the 8th August, 1899.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

INDEX. San Francisoo Mail-service— Page. Renewal of Service. Proposed Fortnightly Despatch. New Zealand Port of Call .. .. .. 1 Vancouver Mail-servioe— Alternation with Suez Route. Sydney-Brisbane Contract. Call at Fiji .. .. .. .«. 5 Interprovinoial Service .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6

'i SAN FBANCISCO MAIL-SEKVICE.

RENEWAL OF SERVICE. PROPOSED FORTNIGHTLY DESPATCH. NEW ZEALAND PORT OF CALL. No. 1. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,— 18th May, 1899. Referring to your letter of the 29th March last [see No. 81, F.-6, 1899], I beg herewith to transmit copy of correspondence with the London General Post Office, respecting the proposal to establish a fortnightly mail-service by way of San Francisco. From the result of an interview with one of the Secretaries of the General Post Office, I am of opinion that the assistance which may be expected to be given by the Imperial postal authorities to a fortnightly service via San Francisco will not go beyond the Postal Union conditions and regulations. Moreover, I think it will be found that they will, if possible, avoid sending all the mails by that route, if it can be proved that by sending via Suez and Australia the mails would reach their destination in a shorter time. I enclose herewith copy of an advertisement [not printed] which appeared in the Times of the 17th instant, by which it will be seen that the liquidator of the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company gives notice that he proposes to offer for sale by tender the steamers, business, good-will, and property of the company. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Reeves.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. The Agent-General to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir,— 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 12th May, 1899. I am directed by the Agent-General to inform you that the withdrawal of the mailservice to New Zealand via, Vancouver renders it probable that a proposal for the establishment of a fortnightly service by way of San Francisco will be brought under the consideration of the New Zealand Parliament at its approaching session in June next. In view of such action, the AgentGeneral has been instructed by his Government to ascertain what support would be given by the Imperial Government to a fortnightly service by above-mentioned route. In my letter to you of the 23rd March last [not printed], I intimated that, in view of the acceleration of the railway service between San Francisco and New York, the mails from New