¥.— 6.

No. 61. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. Sir, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 29th November, 1902. I have the honour to inform you that, anticipating the approval of the Pacific Gable Board, an agency of the New Zealand Post Office has been established at Panning Island, Mr. Cuthbert, the Superintendent of the cable station, having expressed his willingness to act as Postmaster. The post-office should be a convenience to. the Pacific Cable Board's employees on the island, as it will enable them to receive ordinary mail-matter from all parts of the world, as well as parcels from places which have parcel-post exchanges with New Zealand. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, for the Premier. The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 62. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster - General Melbourne. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 12th December, 1902. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ultimo [not printed], advising that the sum of £1,641 16s. 3d. had been credited this Department in the money-order account for the conveyance of Victorian mail-matter by the San Francisco service for the year ended the 30th June last. In reply, I would refer you to my letter of the 27th July, 1901 [No. 8, F.-6, 1902], stating that the collection of all moneys due by the non-contracting States for the carriage of their mails by the service would cease as from the 30th June, 1901, and that Messrs. the J. D. Spreckels and Bros. Company would communicate with you as to the manner in which future payments for the conveyance of your outward mail-matter should be made. I have paid over to Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, the company's agents in Auckland, the sum you have credited this office with, and asked them to communicate with you about future payments. I have, Ac, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Melbourne. W. Gray, Secretary.

No. 63. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 12th December, 1902. I have the honour to forward herewith copy of a letter from the Deputy PostmasterGeneral, Melbourne, stating that the sum of £1,641 16s. 3d. had been credited this Department on account of the conveyance of Victorian mail-matter by the San Francisco mail-service for the year ended 30th June last. I also attach a copy of my reply, intimating that the amount is due to the Oceanic Steamship Company. From the letter of the 22nd July, 1901, to the J. D. Spreckels and Bros. Company, copy of which was forwarded you on the 29th September last, you would see that the company was advised that it should make its own arrangements for collecting the amounts due by the Australian States. No doubt you will make claims on the Deputy Postmaster-General, Melbourne, for future payments. The present sum in the hands of the Department will be paid you in the usual way. I have, &c, Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. W. Gray, Secretary.

No. 64. Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company (American and Australian Line), Sir,— Auckland, 17th December, 1902. We have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your favour of the 12th instant, enclosing copy of a letter from the Deputy Postmaster-General, Melbourne, advising that the sum of £1,641 16s. 3d. has been credited to your Department on account of the conveyance of Victorian mail-matter by our steamers for the year ended 30th June, 1902. We are making application for payment in the usual manner, and may remark that we are advising the Sydney agents of the Oceanic Steamship Company to make claims on the Federal Postmaster-General for future payments. We have, &c, Henderson and Macfarlane. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 65. Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Auckland, 22nd December, 1902. Until further notice each steamer to San Francisco will call at Fanning Island en route.

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