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No. 92. The Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — Eesident Agency for New Zealand, San Francisco, 3rd May, 1901. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your communication of the Ist April, with enclosures [No. 148, F.-6, 1901]. The contents thereof are noted for future guidance. The only difficulty I foresee in respect to the mode for detaining steamers at this port in case of delay is that the knowledge of the delay does not reach us sometimes until almost the hour for the departure of the steamer, when there may not be time to receive instructions from Washington. I have, &c, H. Stephbnson Smith, Eesident Agent. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 93. The Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Sib, — Eesident Agency for New Zealand, San Francisco, 3rd May, 1901. . . . The " Sierra" did not manage to reach here until Tuesday morning at 8, and, as the express left at 10, it looked hopeless that any connection could be made, as the vessel did not get alongside until 9.30 a.m. However, through the exertions of the San Francisco officials, who did some remarkably smart work, and the assistance of Messrs. Spreckels in influencing the Southern Pacific Eailroad officials, we succeeded in delaying the express thirty-seven minutes, and thus effected the connection. As the " Lucania" was to leave New York at 2 p.m. on Saturday, and the mails were only due at New York at 2.15 p.m., I took the matter up with the Cunard Company, and think we could have arranged the connection. By an unfortunate accident to the express, however, some ten hours after its departure, all our hopes were crushed and our good work rendered futile, as the mails were delayed on the Sierra Nevada Mountains until taken up by the night express, which will only land our mails in New York on Sunday morning, so that, as there is nothing scheduled transatlantic until Wednesday, the final arrival will again be quite late and be a source of dissatisfaction. lam of the opinion that the new Spreckels boats are unable to perform the time-table, which should be rearranged so as to give a reasonable prospect of success. ... I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Eesident Agent The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 94. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 23rd May, 1901. (Memorandum.) San Francisco Mail. Eepebking to my memorandum of the 26th April last [No. 155, F.-6., 1901], I beg to transmit herewith copy of correspondence, by which it will be seen that I directed the attention of the New York postal authorities to the desirability of sending the New Zealand mails, on their arrival in New York, by such steamers as would be likely to give the earliest delivery in this country. Walter Kennaway, for the Agent-General. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington.

Enclosure 1 in No. 94. The Secretary to the Agent-Genebal to Messrs. E. W. Cameron and Co., New York. Dear Sirs,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 26th April, 1901. I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant [not printed], and to thank you for kindly giving instructions that messages as to the New Zealand mails leaving New York should be sent as soon as possible after the mail leaves. I am further directed to request the favour of your taking an opportunity of directing the attention of the postal authorities in New York to the fact that the mails which were sent by the s.s. " Majestic " were not delivered in London until 5 p.m. on the 25th instant, whereas if they had been sent by the s.s. " Deutschland," which the Agent-General understands left New York some time after the " Majestic,' they would have been delivered in London during the morning of the 25th instant, which I need hardly point out would have been a considerable advantage to the recipients. The Agent-General feels sure that the New York postal authorities desire to expedite the delivery of mails so far as they possibly can, and that they would willingly use their own discretion in order that the mails shall be forwarded by the steamers that have proved themselves to be the fastest boats. I am, &c, Messrs. E. W. Cameron and Co., New York. Walteb Kennaway.