F.—6.

No. 35. Messrs. Hbndbeson and Macfaelane, Auckland, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company (American and Australian Line), Sib,— Auckland, 29th August, 1902. We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 27th and telegram of 28th instant [not printed], also to thank you for forwarding three copies of the San Francisco mail contract. These copies came to hand in time to be forwarded to San Francisco by the " Ventura's " mail; and thanking you for your attention to our request, We have, &c, Henderson and Macfarlane, General Agents for New Zealand. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 36. The Sbcbbtary, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Hbndbeson and Macfablane, Auckland. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 3rd September, 1902. I have the honour, by direction, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th August, directing attention to a Press cablegram which appeared in several New Zealand newspapers in May last with reference to the advantages pointed out in favour of the proposal that the San Francisco steamers should call at Noumea. The Postmaster-General has noted Mr. Spreckels's remarks as conveyed in your letter under acknowledgment. I have, &c, Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 37. Messrs. Hendebson and Macpaelane, Auckland, to the Secretaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company (American and Australian Line), Sib, — Auckland, 9th September, 1902. We have the honour to draw your attention to the carriage of mails from the Australian States, Tasmania, and Fiji by our steamers to San Francisco. The last payment by your Government covered the period from Ist November, 1900, to 30th June, 1901, and we now respectfully ask whether payment for the period from Ist July, 1901, to 30th June, 1902, is not due. We have, &c, Hendebson and Maopablane. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 38. The Secbbtaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Hendebson and Macfarlane, Auckland. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 12th September, 1902. , I have the honour to forward herewith for your acceptance three additional copies of the contract between the Postmaster-General of this colony and the J. D. Spreckels and Bros. Company for the conveyance of mails between Auckland and San Francisco. I have, &c, Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. W. Geay, Secretary. [Letters in similar terms to the J. D. Spreckels and Bros. Company, San Francisco; Mr. H. Stephenson Smith, Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco (with three copies each); to the Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin (with two copies); and to the Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Wellington (with one copy).]

No. 39. The Hon. the Postmastee-Genebal, Wellington, to the Seceetaby, General Post Office, London. Sib, General Post Office, Wellington, 15th September, 1902. I have the honour to inform you that this Administration will, commencing with the voyage of the " Sierra " on the 19th instant, be in a position to despatch mails for Fanning Island once every six weeks by the mail-steamers leaving Auckland for San Francisco. The time-table will, when it is finally settled, be advertised in our " Post and Telegraph Guide." Correspondence despatched from the United Kingdom by way of San Francisco should be enclosed in the mail labelled " Samoa," as it will be necessary for the Mail-agents to leave such correspondence at %— F. 6.

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