39

F.—6

29th December failed to make due train-connection at Chicago. Fortunately, Mr. Stephenson Smith made representations to the Postmaster at New York and the Cunard Company, and as the result of the efficient working of the New York Post Office and the courtesy of the Cunard Company the mails caught the " Campania," leaving on the day named. You are doubtless aware how much this office desires that no hitch should occur in the overland transit of our mails ; and I should be much obliged if you could in any way assist to overcome the apparently faulty transfer arrangements of the railroad companies at Chicago. The fault appears to be entirely that of the companies. It is recognised that the mails of this administration receive unusually prompt despatch at the hands of the Post Office of your country. I have, &c, Thomas Rose, for the Secretary. The Superintendent, Office of Foreign Mails, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C.

No. 136. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 4th February, 1901. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd ultimo, and note the action taken by you in assuring the connection of mails made with s.s. " Campania " at New York on the 29th December. I have expressed to the agents of the Cunard Company and the Post Office at New York the gratification of this department at the interest displayed in the prompt handling of the mails in question; and have also reported to the Superintendent of Foreign Mails at Washington the failure in train-connection at Chicago, and have requested that he would give the matter his special attention with a view to overcoming the remissness which appears so frequently to occur at that point. I have, &c, Thomas Rose, for the Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco.

No. 137. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. (Telegram.) London, 14th February, 1901. Referring to your letter of the 27th October last [No. 29], Post Office states that United States applies for payment of sea-transit rates Frisco mail-service [see No. 95]. Ask whether New Zealand Government have any objection, otherwise United States request will be complied with.

No. 138. The Superintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Post Office Department, Office of Foreign Mails, Washington, D.C, Sir,— 15th February, 1901. I have the honour, by direction of the Postmaster-General, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo, in which, with reference to the mail-service from San Francisco to Auckland to be performed by the Oceanic Steamship Company of San Francisco under its contract with this department, you request this department to provide for the detention of the steamers at San Francisco to await the British closed mails for the colonies whenever that course may become necessary, in order to secure the prompt despatch of mails which have been delayed en route to San Francisco. In reply, I have to inform you that, while this department cannot compel the Oceanic Steamship Company to hold its steamers at San Francisco for the purpose mentioned, yet there is no doubt that the company will comply with this department's request to that effect, and the department will have no hesitation in making such requests. In fact, such requests have been made on three occasions recently in cases in which the mails from New York failed to make connection at Chicago with west-bound trains, and the steamers were held at San Francisco for not less than eighteen hours on one of those occasions. I am, &c, N. M. Brooks, Superintendent of Foreign Mails. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

No. 139. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,— 22nd February, 1901. Referring to previous correspondence, I beg to enclose herewith copy of a letter I have received from the Imperial Post Office, relating to the proposed payment to the United States Post