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Enclosure 2 in No. 94. Messrs. B. W. Cameron and Co., New York, to the Agent-General. Sib,— New York, 14th May, 1901. We have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 28th ultimo regarding despatch of New Zealand mails from New York. We have taken the matter up with the postal authorities in New York, and expect to receive a communication from them on the subject very shortly, a copy of which we will forward to you. As you remark, we know that the Postmaster here is extremely anxious to make a good record in the despatch of foreign mails, and that the matter will receive his hearty support. We are, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. E. W. Cameron and Co.

Enclosure 3 in No. 94. Messrs. E. W. Cameron and Co., New York, to the Agent-General. New York, 15th May, 1901. Sir, — New Zealand Mails. Eeferring to our letter of yesterday's date, we now have pleasure in enclosing copy of a communication received from the New York Post Office this morning relative to despatch of New Zealand mails from this port. You will observe that the matter has been referred to the Superintendent of Foreign Mails at Washington, whose remarks on the subject are embodied in the letter of the Postmaster of New York. Commending the same to your attention, We are, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. E. W. Cameron and Co.

Sub-enclosure in Enclosure 3 in No. 94. The Postmaster, New York, to Messrs. E. W. Cameron and Co., New York. New York Post Office, Foreign Branch, 14th May, 1901. Gentlemen, —■ New Zealand British Mails. Eeferring to your letter of the 6th instant, relative to the forwarding of the New Zealand mails to Great Britain, I have to inform you that the matter of holding the New Zealand and also the New York mails for the " Deutschland " was referred to the Superintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington, D.C., and this office has been instructed in the matter as follows, viz. : — " The question raised as to future despatches will receive careful consideration when future issues of the schedule are prepared for the printer. It may be well to add, however, that unless the probabie advantage to be gained by holding the mails for despatch by a certain steamer is quite material, that course will hardly be followed, as the steamer scheduled for the later date might be postponed after the steamer scheduled for the earlier date had sailed, thereby seriously delaying the despatch and delivery of the mails which could have been despatched by the steamer sailing on the earlier date. The Department endeavours to despatch the mails by the most expeditious means available ; but there will, of course, be instances occasionally in which the desired result is not accomplished. Very respectfully, C. van Cott, Postmaster.

No. 95. The Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, —■ Eesident Agency for New Zealand, San Francisco, 15th June, 1901. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your cablegram of the 14th May [not printed] (received during my absence in the Eastern States), about repairs to the " Sonoma " and mail-agents' movements through non-connection with " Mariposa." This cable did not appear to require a reply. Mr. Isbister remained at Honolulu with both his assistants, and I presume was enabled to handle the mail on its arrival at Honolulu. I am also in receipt of your communications of the 29th and 30th April [Nos. 159 and 162, F -6,1901], the first in connection with the reported delay of a train in December last, and the latter with the delay to a bag of mail from London in April last. In regard to the delays in the overland * transit, I regret to state that they are still of constant occurrence, and serious delay to the through service is the result. The delays hitherto have been, I understand, on the Union Pacific line, but it is now claimed chat the Union Pacific Company has now completed its improvements on the transcontinental route, and in future delays on that portion of the route should cease. I sincerely trust that this may be the case, as, now that the Pacific service is running in such an unsatisfactory manner, every possible hour saved on the overland transit is of vital consideration. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Eesident Agent. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.