F.—G.

No. 95. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Hendbbson and Macpablane, Auckland. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, Bth June, 1903. I have the honour to inform you that the Mail-agent on the R.M.S. " Sonoma " reports that it is understood that, at the request of the Postal Department at Washington, the Oceanic Steamship Company's steamers will leave San Francisco at 2 p.m. instead of 10 a.m. on Thursdays. 1 shall be glad to know whether you are in a position to confirm the information. If you are unable to do so, perhaps you will be good enough to say whether the Department should regard 2 p.m. as the due time of departure from San Francisco. I have, &c, Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 96. Messrs. Hendebson and Macfablane, Auckland, to the Secbbtaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company (American and Australian Line), Sib,— Auckland, 12th June, 1903. We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth instant, dealing with the hour of departure of the mail-steamers from San Francisco, and have to inform you that up to the present we have had no advice whatever respecting such a change. We regret that we are not in a position to advise your Department to accept 2 p.m. as the correct sailing-hour from San Francisco; and in writing to our head office by the outgoing mail we will ask them to cable us if the change has taken place. Should, however, we hear by the incoming mail we will, of course, at once pass the information on to you. We have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Hendeeson and Macfaelane.

VANCOUVER J3ERVICE.

No. 97. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Supeeintendent of Fobeign Mails, Washington. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd April, 1902. I have the honour to inform you that, as steamer communication between Honolulu and the United States is now frequent, it occasionally happens that New Zealand correspondence addressed to places in America would reach your country from three to five days sooner if transhipped at Honolulu than if it were carried on to Vancouver. This Administration has therefore arranged for such mail-matter as may be despatched hence to Fiji to connect with the BrisbaneVancouver mail-steamer to be landed at Honolulu for conveyance to San Francisco by direct steamer when by so doing the delivery of the correspondence will be accelerated. The bags covering mail-matter to be so dealt with will be labelled " United States: To be landed at Honolulu." I have, &c, The Superintendent, Office of Foreign Mails, W. Gbay, Secretary. Post Office Department, Washington, D.C.

No. 98.. The Supeeintendent of Fobeign Mails, Washington, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Genebal, Wellington. Post Office Department, Office of Foreign Mails, Washington, D.C, Sib,— 22nd May, 1902. Referring to your letter of the 22nd ultimo, stating that you have provided for the landing at Honolulu for despatch thence to San Francisco of the mails from New Zealand for the United States despatched by the Brisbane-Vancouver steamers whenever that course will expedite the delivery of the correspondence at destination, I have the honour, by direction of the Post-master-General, to inform you that due notice of the same has been taken, and that the necessary instructions in regard thereto have been issued on this side. I am, &c, N. M. Beooks, The Postmaster-General, Wellington. Superintendent of Foreign Mails.

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