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No. 99. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. (Telegram.) London, 26th October, 1900. Imperial Post Office decided despatch mails by means of new San Francisco service.

No. 100. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, S.W., London. Sir,— 26th October, 1900. Referring to my letter of the 18th instant, I beg to transmit herewith copy of letter received this day from the General Post Office, stating that is has been decided to despatch mails for New Zealand from this country by the three-weekly service which has been established between San Francisco and New Zealand. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Reeves.

Enclosure in No. 100. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Agent-General. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 25th October, 1900. With reference to your letter of the 12th instant and previous correspondence on the subject of the New Zealand mail-service, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to inform you that it has been decided to despatch mails for New Zealand from this country vid San Francisco every three weeks in connection with the new service of Messrs. Spreckels. Correspondence posted in time for transmission vid Suez in the two weeks following a despatch vid San Francisco will be forwarded, as at present, by the eastern route unless specially superscribed to be sent otherwise. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. H. Buxton Forman.

No. 101. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Washington. General Post Office, Wellington, 27th October, 1900. Sir, — San Francisco Mail-service. I have the honour to confirm, as under, my telegram to you yesterday : " Arranged with Spreckels continuance Frisco service for exchange mails Great Britain. Kindly consent to New Zealand receiving sea-rates, Pacific, payable by Britain on its mails for colony." Permit me to express the hope that I may be in receipt of a favourable reply in the course of a few days. I have, &c, W. Gray, for the Postmaster-General. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Washington.

No. 102. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 27th October, 1900. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, enclosing copy of correspondence with the Superintendent, Railway Mail-service, Eighth Division, San Francisco, in reference to the failure of the homeward mails by the " Mariposa" to effect train-connection at Chicago on the 28th August. As requested, the enclosures are returned herewith. I note that a similar failure has occurred at the same point this month. I am sending copy of the correspondence to the Postmaster-General, Washington, in the hope that he will take such action as will prevent similar delays occurring in future. 1 have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco.

No. 103. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmaster - General, Washington. Sir— General Post Office, Wellington, 27th October, 1900. I have the honour to forward herewith copy of correspondence between the Resident Agent for New Zealand at San Francisco and the Superintendent of the Railway Mail-service,