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P.—6

No. 90

The Deputy Postmaster - General, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Postal and Electric Telegraph Department, General Post Office, Sir,— Sydney, 6th September, 1899. Beferring to your communication of the 24th ultimo, intimating that, as the "Upolu" could not connect with the " Warrimoo" at Suva, the British mails which it was intended to despatch by that steamer were sent on to Sydney by the " Westralia " for onward transmission by a Federal mail-steamer, I have the honour to inform you that thirty-five bags of mails from Auckland for London, received here by the " Westralia " on the 25th idem, were placed on board the P. and O. s.s. "Victoria" the following day. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, Deputy Postmaster-General. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 91. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Premier. (Telegram.) London, 11th September, 1899. Orient Company, having been advised New Zealand Government inviting tenders conveyance mails by sea connecting with Federal mail-service, will be prepared entertain definite offer from New Zealand Government extend company's steamers to New Zealand so as to provide New Zealand Government's requirements. In case Government approve of proposal, company would endeavour to ascertain whether Peninsular-Oriental will join.

No. 92. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 12th September, 1899. Quite correct New Zealand Government intends establish four-weekly service connect with Federal mail, Wellington-Sydney and Sydney-Wellington, so as to give alternate fortnightly service with San Francisco. Ascertain for purposes estimates approximate amount for which Orient Company would undertake service.

No. 93. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. (Telegram.) London, 18th September, 1899. Orient Company not prepared to negotiate four-weekly service, but, provided Peninsular-Oriental join, would entertain offer so as to provide weekly service by ocean steamers running through to colony. Subsidy approximately £60,000.

No. 94. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— 18fch September, 1899. I beg herewith to transmit copy of correspondence which has passed with reference to the proposal to extend the weekly steam-services of the Peninsular and Oriental and Orient Companies to New Zealand. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure 1 in No. 94. Memorandum by the Secretary to the Agent-Genebal. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Bth September, 1899. Mr. J. G. S. Anderson, chairman of the Orient Company, called this afternoon. He had received the following telegram from Mr. D. Anderson, Orient Company's agent at Sydney :— " Government of New Zealand invite tenders a four-weekly service, twelve knots, Lyttel-ton-Wellington-Sydney, not less than 2,000 register, connecting Suez ; service commencing 11th October, two years." When Mr. Seddon was in England Mr. Anderson and the chairman of the Peninsular and Oriental Company had an interview with him with reference to Mr. Seddon's suggestion that the two companies should send their steamers going to Australia on to New Zealand. Mr. Anderson does not suppose that the above has anything to do with that suggestion, but he wished to say that the Orient Company were open to entertain an offer from the New Zealand Government to make such an extension of their mail-service, and which would meet the requirements of the Government for the speedy and regular transmission of the Federal mails on to New Zealand.