F.—6.

AUSTRALIA-SUEZ SERVTG ES.

No. 99. The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Christohurch, to the Hon. Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, 17th March, 1903. I am directed to call your attention to the fact that now the Union Steam Ship Company's boats leave on Thursday they will be able to connect with the Homeward mails from Australia, and to forward the following resolution in connection therewith: "That the Postmaster-General be requested to arrange a weekly postal service between Wellington and Sydney to connect with the weekly mails via Suez to the United Kingdom." I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. H. Antill Adley, Secretary.

No. 100. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 27th March, 1903. I have the honour, by direction of the Acting Postmaster-General, to reply to your letter of the 17th instant, enclosing copy of resolution passed by. your Chamber as follows: " That the Postmaster-General be requested to arrange a weekly postal service between Wellington and Sydney to connect with the weekly mails vid Suez to the United Kingdom." I am to point out that, although the weekly direct steamer for Sydney has lately, with some exceptions, sailed hence on the Friday and connected with the outgoing mail via Suez from Sydney the following Tuesday, the Union Company is unable to give an undertaking that Friday will be the regular day of departure from Wellington. As you are probably aware, the last two sailings were on Saturday, and this week's steamer does not leave until to-morrow. Under these circumstances the Minister regrets that it is not practicable at present to arrange for such a service as is desired by your Chamber. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. The Secretary, Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch.

No. 101. The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Christchureh, to the Hon. Postmaster-General, Wellington. Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, N.Z., Sir,— 21st April, 1903. I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 27th March, on the subject of a weekly mail-service vid Suez, with thanks. This Chamber would, however, like to point out the great convenience such a service would be to the mercantile community, not necessarily every week, but especially on the Friday week following the departure of the San Francisco mail, and would urge that the Union Steam Ship Company and the Huddart-Parker Company be subsidised so that the steamer may be sure of leaving on that day. I have, &c, The Hon. Postmaster-General, Wellington. H. Antill Adley, Secretary.

No. 102. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington 23rd May, 1903. Referring to the weekly steamer service from Wellington to Sydney, I am directed by the Hon. the Postmaster-General to ask for what payment your company would be disposed to arrange for a sailing every Friday from here, or on the Friday in each week following that on which the San Francisco mail leaves here, with the view to insuring a connection being made at Sydney with the mail vid Suez leaving there the following Tuesday. I have, &c, The Managing Director, W. Gray, Secretary. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

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