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No. 26. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 20th October, 1900. Under circumstances, feel sure Mr. Spreckels will approve two additional Mail-agents receiving passages per " Mariposa."

No. 27. Mr. J. H. Witheford, M.H.R., Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmaster - General, Wellington. Sir,— Wellington, 23rd October, 1900. I have cabled to Mr. Spreckels that the Union Company decline to run " Moana " without usual American subsidy. As might be expected, there is much regret expressed in Auckland at the possibility of no mailsteamer running to San Francisco with mails and passengers in November. Can you see any way of assisting to arrange with the Union Company, as their agreement appears to have been cancelled prior to other arrangements being entered into, and it happens to be just at the time that the only boat the Union Company has on this line is at the New Zealand end ? The Oceanic boats will keep the service going from San Francisco. A sudden break in this important service should be avoided if possible ; and this can be satisfactorily arranged by the " Moana " making one trip more. Trusting you will be able to meet the urgent requirements of the colony in this matter by securing the running of the " Moana " in November. I have, &c, J. H. Witheford. P.S.—I desire, if possible, to leave Wellington, and shall be glad of an early intimation of your intention to provide for the mails and passengers being carried via San Prancisco as usual.— J. H. W. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

No. 28. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 26th October, 1900. Frisco service : Spreckels accepts resolutions. Washington asked consent New Zealand receive London sea-postage [No. 98]. Commencing twenty-first November, steamer leave San Francisco every three weeks. Mails from London week earlier. Advise when Imperial Post Office proposes despatch mails. First steamer regular running leaves Auckland December eighth. No outward steamer next month.

No. 29. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. Sir,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 27th October, 1900. I have the honour to forward herewith copies of the resolutions passed by the House of Representatives on the 11th instant, with reference to the continuance of the San Francisco mailservice. My cable messages, copies of which are attached, will have apprised you that the contract with the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand had been cancelled at the request of the company, owing, primarily, to the shutting-out of the " Moana " from trading between Honolulu and San Francisco, as the result of the application to Hawaii of the mercantile shipping laws of the United States. This is unfortunate, and much sympathy has been expressed with the Union Steam Ship Company both in and out of Parliament. The first result of the altered arrangement is that there will be no mail for London vid San Francisco next month, but this it was not possible, under the circumstances, to avoid. A close connection, however, with the Federal mail leaving Sydney on the 6th proximo, and also with the Vancouver mail leaving the following day, has been arranged. The latter connection will enable replies to be sent to American letters received by the San Francisco mail, which has just arrived. It is also being arranged to connect with the Brindisi mail leaving Sydney on the 20th proximo, and due in London on the 23rd December. The first of the new sailings from San Francisco will be taken up by the s.s. " Sierra " on the 21st November, after which mails will leave every three weeks. I enclose draft time-table, from which it will be seen that the Brindisi mails can only be used in future with advantage for the despatch leaving London six days after the departure of the mail via San Francisco. I am communicating with you by cable about the London departures with the view of your making the necessary arrangements with the London Post Office. [See also No. 122.] If the new time-table dates can be kept, a very satisfactory service should result, from the point of view of the transport of mails. The new steamers are, as already advised, all on the American register. They are powerful steamers of 6,000 tons, with all modern improvements, and have been built specially for the service. Owing to labour troubles, some delay in completing them has occurred, and the " Mariposa," leaving Auckland on the 29th instant, will probably have to