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No. 13. The Hon. the Premier and Colonial Teeasureb, Sydney, to the Hon. the Pbemier, Wellington. (Telegram. , ) Sydney, sth October, 1899. Am in receipt of your two telegrams of to-day relative to San Francisco mail-service and Pacific cable respectively.

No. 14. The Acting Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin, to the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral. Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin, 6th October, 1899. Sir, — San Francisco Mail-service. I have the honour, by direction of the Committee of this Chamber, to address you regarding the San Francisco mail-service. The extraordinary disadvantages under which Dunedin labours in connection with this service have caused so much irritation amongst the commercial section of the community that our Chamber has been forced to take notice of the almost unceasing complaints and give the matter its due attention. The committee appointed for the purpose has drawn up a table of arrivals and departures of this mail during the current year. This table 1 have the honour to enclose herewith for your perusal, and a glance at it will at once show you that, despite the two days later despatch commenced in March last, the departure in six instances took place just prior to the arrival of the incoming mail. In the remaining four months, whilst the inward mail arrived by train at 9 o'clock in the evening of one day, the outward mail closed at 10 o'clock on the morning of the next, thus leaving time only for a bare acknowledgment, the transaction of business being quite out of the question. Comment upon such a handicap to trade is surely needless, and I am directed by the Chamber to respectfully ask that you will, by arranging for a further delay of a few days, or by some such other way as is most convenient to all concerned, grant this very necessary assistance to the commerce of Otago, and so enable the province to maintain its position in friendly competition with the other parts of the colony. I have, &c, Edwd. C. Leaby, Acting Secretary. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

Date and Time of Arrival and Departure of San Francisco Mail at Dunedin since Ist January, 1899. Arrivals. Departures. Arrivals. Departures. Jan. 21 ... 2.15 a.m. Jan. 18 ... 10 a.m. June 8 ... 9 p.m. June 9 ... 10 a.m. Feb. 17 ... la.m. Feb. 15 ... 10 a.m. July 6 ... 9 p.m. July 7 ... 10 a.m. Mar. 18 ... 9.5 p.m. Mar. 17 ... 10 a.m. Aug. 4 ... 9 p.m. Aug. 4 ... 10 a.m. April 15 ... 6.45 a.m. April 14 ... 10 a.m. Aug. 31 ... 9.15 p.m. Sept. 1 ... 10 a.m. May 13 ... 6.40 a.m. May 12 ... 10 a.m. Sept. 28 ... 9 p.m. Sept. 29 ... 10 a.m. Since March the mail has left two days later.

No. 15. The Hon. the Premier and Colonial Treasurer, Sydney, to the Hon. the Premier, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 20th October, 1899. » Your telegram of fifth : There is no objection, so far as this colony is concerned, to the continuation of the San Francisco mail for twelve months from April, 1900, subject to Parliament voting the subsidy, £4,000. As regards negotiating for a faster service, it will, it is thought here, be time enough to consider what support New South Wales will afford when definite particulars of the proposal are furnished by New Zealand.

No. 16. Eesolutions passed by the House of Eepresentatives, 23bd October, 1899. Eesolved, That this House authorises the Government to extend the San Francisco mail-service for twelve months from the Ist day of April, 1900, on the present terms and conditions, as set out in the contract agreements dated the 11th day of April, 1899, and the 20th day of July, 1899, and published in Parliamentary Paper F.-6, 1899, page 23. That this House also empowers the Government to enter into negotiations for a sixteen- and for a seventeen-days service once every four weeks, and also alternate services once every two weeks and once every three weeks, by vessels of not less than 4,000 tons, between Auckland and San Francisco, for a period of five (or seven) years, commencing about April, 1901 : Provided that at least one British-owned steamer shall be employed in either service. The result of such negotiations to be submitted to the House for confirmation next session, and to have no effect until approved by the House.