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uniform rates of freight be charged to all main ports of New Zealand ; and (2) that the rates charged to New Zealand ports, inclusive of cost of transhipment and coastal freight, shall not exceed the rate charged on like goods to Melbourne." I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. H. Antill Adley, Secretary.

No. 67. Mr. John D. Spreckels, San Francisco, to -the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company of San Prancisco, Office of the President, Sir, — ' San Francisco, 17th April, 1901. In reply to your telegram of the 23rd March, which reached me on board the s.s. " Ventura " at Auckland, I would say that it was impossible for me to reply to you then, as I was ill in bed at the time. lam likewise very much disappointed that we had not an opportunity of meeting each other, but it was absolutely essential that I should return at once to San Francisco. In regard to the time-table, it is impossible for the one framed by us, and which was deposited with the Postmaster-General at Washington, to be altered by us without his consent, and even if he were willing to agree to the alteration I cannot see how we could possibly change the schedule so as to permit of the interval between steamers which you refer to, to enable replies from all parts of the colony to be sent by return mail. If you could frame a twenty-one-days schedule that would accomplish this, or suggest any way in which this object could be accomplished, I should be very glad indeed to give the matter consideration, and, if found feasible, would endeavour to obtain permission from our Government to make the alteration. Acting on your suggestion, I will give power of attorney to Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, to enable them to receive moneys payable by the New Zealand Government for the carriage of mails outward from New Zealand. I gave the Union Steam Ship Company a power of attorney to collect the moneys due from the Government up to the date of the appointment of Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane as our Auckland agents I remain, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. John D. Spreckels.

No. 68. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 27th April, 1901. I have the honour, by direction, to refer to your letter of the 16th instant, forwarding copy of a resolution passed at the recent conference of Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, with reference to steamship freights from San Francisco to all the main ports of New Zealand; and, in reply, to inform you that the Postmaster-General will give consideration to the intent of the resolution when discussing the terms of a contract with the Spreckels Brothers Company. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. The Secretary, Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch.

No. 69. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 29th April, 1901. Reported " Sonoma '' to be delayed Sydney for repairs. When will she sail ? Kindly reply urgent.

No. 70. The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 29th April, 1901. " Sonoma " detained about week. Exact date sailing not yet known.

No. 71. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, 29th April, 1901. We should have had the first advice of " Sonoma's " detention at Sydney to enable arrangements to be made for sending on the accumulated mail-matter vid Australia and Suez. Dunedin papers state that the steamer does not leave Sydney until 9th proximo, while you gave the Chief Postmaster, Auckland, the 11th as the day of departure from Auckland. In reply to telegram I sent this morning, Sydney states that detention will be about a week, but that exact date of sailing not yet known. These detentions and late arrivals are completely disorganizing business and financial arrangements with London, The last two mails were five days late in reaching London, and the