F.—6b.

1903. NEW ZEALAND.

OCEAN MAIL-SERVICES (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO). [In continuation of Paper F.-6 presented on the 3rd July, 1903.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

INDEX. • p age San Francisco Mail-sbbvice .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Contract with the Oceanic Company. Number of Passengers, Amount of Freight, &c, by Service in Eighteen Months to May, 1903, No. 3 ; Proposed Eenewal, Nos. 2, 6-9, 12 ; Temporary Renewal pending Decision of Parliament, Nos. 1, 4, 5, 10,11. AUSTBALIA-SUEZ SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Proposals for Sydney Connection, Nos. 13-17.

SAN FB AN CISCO SERVICE.

CONTRACT WITH THE OCEANIC COMPANY, ETC.

No. 1. The Secebtaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to Mr. Dunnet, Auckland. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 2nd July, 1903. With reference to my telegram of the 29th ultimo, and to your reply of the 30th idem [Nos. 72 and 72a, F.-6, 1903], on the subject of a temporary renewal of the San Francisco mailservice contract, I have the honour to inform you that the Postmaster-General notes that you agree on behalf of the contractors to the renewal of the service for a period not exceeding six months, so as to afford the House of Representatives an opportunity of considering the matter of a new contract. The necessary action to give legal effect to this is being taken, and it is the intention of the Postmaster-General to bring the question before the House at an early date. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. G. Dunnet, Esq., Messrs. Henderson and Maofarlane, Auckland.

No. 2. Mr. Dunnet, Auckland, to the Hon. the Postmastek-Geneeal, Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company (American and Australian Line), Sib,— Auckland", 2nd July, 1903. I have the honour to lay before you the following proposal from the Oceanic Steamship Company of San Francisco for the carriage of the New Zealand mails from Auckland to San Francisco. They are willing to enter into a new contract for a term of five years for the sum of £25,000 per annum for seventeen trips a year. When the last contract was accepted the Oceanic Company had expectations of a greater amount of mail-money than has been actually paid, it having barely exceeded the minimum of £15,000 per annum allowed. Now that the service is running on a more satisfactory basis, they feel entitled to ask for a larger amount, as the last contract has not paid them for the work done. The company would also be prepared to enter into a special arrangement re tourist traffic in New Zealand. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Geo. Dunnet.

I—F. 6b.