23

F.—6,

No. 52. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, sth April, 1906. Referring letter thirteenth May last [No. 1, F.-6a, 1905] re poundage rates payable by New Zealand for conveyance mails by P. and 0. and Orient: Much obliged if reply could be sent in order that accounts may be prepared. [P.O. 06/630.]

No. 53. The Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 6th April, 1906. Your wire yesterday: Reply letter thirteenth May re poundage rates being posted to-day. [P.O. 06/630.]

No. 54. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 20th April, 1906. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo, asking whether the arrangement under which (without payment of gratuity by the Sydney office of your Department) vessels of the Union and Huddart Parker lines may be utilised for the onward transmission of the closed mails for New Zealand received at Sydney, via Suez, has been extended so as to embrace the steamers of the Oceanic Steamship Company, and, in reply, to inform you that arrangements already exist whereby amounts due for transit of English and foreign mails from Australia to New Zealand are paid to the Oceanic Steamship Company. Such mails conveyed by vessels not belonging to the Huddart Parker and Company Proprietary (Limited), Union Steam Ship Company (Limited), and Oceanic Steamship Company, are also paid for on claims being submitted by the masters or the agents. Should it, however, be considered necessary for the Sydney office to pay gratuities to such steamers, it would be necessary to advise this Department by the same mail, to obviate the risk of making the payment twice. I have, &c, Thomas Rose, Acting-Secretary. The Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne.

INTEBPROVINOIAL SEEVICES.

No. 55. The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. ~,, '■-'-'■:'-- Canterbury Chamber of Commerce (Incorporated), Sir, — Christchurch, 29th August, 1905. I am directed to bring under your notice the delay which occurred in the delivery in Christchurch of the Brindisi mail per " Wimmera." This vessel arrived at the Bluff at 7 a.m. on the 22nd instant, but no preparation was made to forward mails to Invercargill, consequently no connection was made with the 8 a.m. express. The result was that the mail did not reach here until the first express on the 23rd, too late to reply by the supplementary San Francisco mail. When the matter of the speedy delivery of this mail was brought under your notice some time ago, it was understood that instructions had been given to make the connection with the express when the steamer arrived early in the morning. It is stated by a passenger that when they reached Invercargill and inquired why the connection had not been made, the answer was given that the steamer was not expected to arrive so early. This hardly seems satisfactory, as the arrival of the steamer must have been known before she reached the wharf. It is hoped that the matter having been brought under your notice, this serious delay will, be obviated in the future. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. H, Antill Adley, Secretary. [P.O. 06/331(3).] ■"■ ; ■ •