3

F.—6

No. 6. Messrs. Henderson and Macfaklane, Auckland, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company (American and Australian Line), Sir, — Auckland, sth January, 1906. We have the honour to refer you to your telegram of Bth November and ours in reply, and now beg to inform you that we are in receipt of a letter from our principals in San Francisco on the same subject, reading as follows:— " We are in receipt of your favour of 16th November, enclosing copies of telegrams which you have received from and sent to the Secretary of the General Post Office in regard to the day on which our steamers are due to arrive at Auckland. In reply, we would say that Mr. Gray has evidently been misinformed as to the instructions given by us to the captains. Our time-tables for some years have shown Monday as the day of arrival at Auckland, and the captains of our steamers have instructions to get there as early as possible on that day." We have, &c, Henderson and Macfaklane, General Agents for New Zealand. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [Agr. 06/ I.]

No. 7. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Henderson and Maofarlane, Auckland. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 12th March, 1906. I have the honour to inform you that the great increase of work in the Marine Post Office will render it necessary to send a second Assistant Mail-agent by the San Francisco steamers. Provision for this exists in clause 20 of the contract. I shall therefore be obliged if you will be good enough to reserve accommodation for the additional officer, beginning with the steamer which leaves Auckland on the 25th May. I have, &c, Thomas Rose, Acting-Secretary. Messis. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. [Staff 05/79.]

No. 8. Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland, to the Acting-Secketary, General Post Office, Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company (American and Australian Line), Sic, — Auckland, 16th March, 1906. We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 12th instant, advising us that commencing with the R.M.S. " Sonoma,' , leaving this port on the 25th May next, you will be sending a second Assistant Mail-agent by our steamers on account of the increase of work in the Marine Post Office rendering the extra help necessary. We are passing this information on to our Head Office in San Francisco, and have the honour to remain, &c, Henderson and Macfarlane, General Agents for New Zealand. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (P.O. 06/109(7).]

No. 9. COPY OF A PAMPHLET ENTITLED "THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA AND THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL-SERVICE," ISSUED BY MESSRS. BURNS, PHILP, AND CO. (LIMITED), SYDNEY, MANAGING AGENTS FOR AUSTRALASIA OF THE OCEANIC STEAMSHIP COMPANY. The Commonwealth Post and Telegraph Department demand that the Oceanic Company's (United States) mail-steamers running from Sydney to San Francisco shall carry Australian mails from the former to the latter port, a distance of seven thousand miles, and that the company shall render this service on the terms dictated by the Department. The company claims to have power of independent action, and that it is entitled to a voice in regard to the payment to be made for such service. As a matter of fact, the company carried Australian mails to San Francisco under mutual agreements from 1884 right up to 1900. The rates which the Postal Department of the Commonwealth wish to compel the Oceanic Company to accept, as from the end of 1900, are only about one-seventh of the rates previously paid. The difference is all the more remarkable because the service has been accelerated, and in every other respect greatly improved. A certain number of payments for 1900 to 1902 were made by some of the States, at the full rates previously paid, but the Commonwealth has asked for a refund of these sums. The company objects to make any such refund, and asks that payment for the whole period, and for all the States, may be brought up to these full rates previously paid.