¥.— 6.

be necessary. I need not point out the advantage which such a concession would afford, as you are already familiar with the inconvenience arising from the late delivery of our mails ac Home. I have, &c, J. G. Wabd, for the Premier. The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 83. The Seoebtaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Besident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 20th January, 1903. I have the honour to inform you that representations have been made by the agents at Auckland of the Oceanic Steamship Company that, although the " Sierra" reached San Francisco on the 6th October last, due date, the mails, through delay at Chicago, arrived in London three days late. The following is an extract from a letter from the Superintendent of the Railway Mail-service at New York : " The investigation made shows that these mails failed to be transferred at Chicago, 111., to the New York and Chicago 8.P.0. train No. 6. This was caused by Superintendent West not being advised of the despatch of these mails from San Francisco by the Ogden and San Francisco 8.P.0. train No. 6, and no provision was made for the transfer from the Chicago and Council Bluffs 8.P.0. train No. 6. These mails were forwarded through to New York City by the New York and Chicago 8.P.0. train No. 16, which accounts for the failure to make regular connection with the steamer sailing from New York on 11th October." Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane state that " No. 6. train leaves Chicago at 8.30 a.m., and arrives in New York the following morning at 10 a.m.; while No. 16 leaves Chicago at 2 p.m., and arrives the following afternoon at 2.55. The Cunard Company in New York were requested to hold the ' Campania' back until the arrival of the 2.55 p.m. train in order that the mails could go forward, but the agent notified our office that it would not be possible to hold their steamer for the three or four hours necessary. Although we have no other data before us at the present writing, we now feel assured that more than once during the past year when the mails were delivered a day or two late in London the delay was due to some little hitch in the rail transportation, and we think pressure ought to be brought to bear on the Cunard Company to detain their steamer for three or four hours in cases like the one instanced. It is needless to point out that the Cunard Company in New York know to the minute when the New Zealand mail will arrive in their city, so that it seems all the more inconsiderate that they should despatch the steamer at noon, when aware that by a delay of the steamer a matter of four hours the colonial mails would be delivered on their due date in London." The Agent-General for the colony in London is being asked to see the Cunard Company, with the object of prevailing upon it to detain the steamer for London when the mails do not arrive until the 2.55 p.m. train. The need for such detention would only arise at infrequent intervals. I shall be obliged if you will also use your good offices in the same direction with the New York agents of the Cunard Company, through the Post Office authorities there. The importance of a prompt connection at New York cannot be too strongly emphasized, seeing that delay there tends to nullify the efforts made at San Francisco and other points along the route to secure rapid transmission of the mails. I have, &c, W. Gbay, Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Besident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco.

No. 84. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Hendebson and Macfaelane, Auckland. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 20th January, 1903. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant, representing that, although the " Sierra " arrived at San Francisco on the 6th October last, due date, the mails, owing to delay at Chicago, reached London three days late, and that the Cunard Steamship Company refused to hold its vessel a few hours at New York to enable the mails to connect there. I have asked the Besident Agent for this colony at San Francisco to use his good offices with the agents of the Cunard Company at New York through the Post Office authorities there, with the view of securing the detention of the steamer for a few hours should this be necessary at some future time. Bepresentations have also been made to the Agent-General in the same direction, and I trust that the desired result will be attained. I have, &c, Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. W. Gbay, Secretary.

No. 85. The Postmaster, San Francisco, to the Seobetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Stb, — San Francisco, Cal., 11th February, 1903. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your communication of 16th January, 1903, in which you were pleased to say some kind words concerning the arrangements made by this office for

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