19

F.—6

into by the Besident Agent at San Francisco. Particulars of the occurrences will be found in the parliamentary paper relating to ocean mail-services, which is now in type. A copy will be forwarded to you by first opportunity. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, for the Premier. The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 81. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Resident Agency for New Zealand, San Prancisco, Sir,— Bth August, 1900. Yours of the 7th July [not printed] to hand, and contents noted. In respect of the Spreckels contract, as there appears to be only one copy of this document here, which is in the hands of the firm, no copy can be obtained. I wired to Washington with regard to obtaining a copy, but was not able to secure one, the Washington authorities stating that "the regulations of this department prevent compliance with your request." I enclose the letter of reply, and also the pamphlet issued at Washington, which, on page 7, gives the general conditions under which these mail-subsidies are granted. On application to Messrs. Spreckels I was permitted to inspect the contract, and enclose you the salient points. You did not in your letter inform me what special point you wished to cover, but I hope the extract sent will give the information desired. You will note that the United States payments only cover the outward voyage, hence the contractors would appear to need colonial subsidies to meet the expense of the homeward voyage. You will also note that the Port of Auckland is one of the ports mentioned as a calling-port, and unless some modification of this point was obtained it would look as if it were imperative that New Zealand should be a calling-place. If the New South Wales authorities persist in their refusal to contribute, possibly the New Zealand Government, by giving a subsidy, could secure Wellington or Auckland as a terminus, with the expenditure that will go with it on these large steamers. The upward mails per "Alameda" arrived here on Thursday evening, and left next morning, arriving at New York on Tuesday, too late for the slow German boat, but left per " Majestic," on Wednesday (no International vessel leaving that week). lam not yet advised of the arrival on the other side, but have no doubt the mails have duly arrived in England. There appears a prospect of the outward mails getting away to-night, although the overland train is reported an hour late. * * * * * * I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Resident Agent. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

Enclosure 1 in No. 81. The Acting Superintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Post Office Department, Office of Foreign Mails, Sir,— Washington, D.C., 31st July, 1900. Referring to my telegram of to-day [not printed], in reply to yours of yesterday [not printed], requesting to be furnished, for transmission to your Government, with a copy of the contract between this department and the Oceanic Steamship Company for the performance of ocean mail-service pursuant to the provisions of the Act of Congress approved 3rd March, 1891, popularly known as the Subsidy Act, I regret to have to inform you that the regulations of this department prevent compliance with your request. I enclose herewith, however, a copy of a pamphlet containing the Act of Congress above referred to, and the advertisement of the Postmaster-General, dated the 20th December last, in accordance with which the contract in question (for a term of ten years, commencing the Ist November, 1900) was made, and also a copy of the schedule of sailings [enclosure in No. 35, P.-6, 1900] for the first year of the contract steamers on the route referred to (route No. 75, San Francisco to Sydney), which documents, it is hoped, will furnish you with the information desired. I have to inform you, further, that the Postmaster-General has designated Pago Pago as the port of call in the Samoan Islands of the contract steamers on the route in question. I am, &c, R. P. Maddox, Acting Superintendent of Foreign Mails. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco.

Sub-enclosure 1 to Enclosure 1 in No. 81. Ocean Mail-service. An Act to provide for Ocean Mail-service between the United States and Foreign Ports, and to promote Commerce. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled : — That the Postmaster-General is hereby authorised and empowered to enter into contracts