F.—6

27

used for creating the forced draught were almost continuously out of order. On the inward voyage the vessel was stopped for twelve hours on the 18th February owing to a mishap in the engineer s department. Fine weather was experienced throughout the voyage. [P O. 07/613.]

No. 115. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Branch Manager, Oceanic Steamship Company, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, 2nd March, 1907. Acting Postmaster-General has decided that no mails to or from Great Britain are to be sent via San Francisco for the present. Letter follows. [S.F. Agr. 07/55.1

No. 116. The Branch Manager, Oceanic Steamship Company, Auckland, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Auckland, 2nd March, 1907. The protracted trip of the " Sierra " was entirely due to defective feed-pumps, which can be perfected in about six days at Sydney. We are confident of despatching her from this port on the eighteenth instant, and Captain Houdlette says he is perfectly sure will make the trip to San Francisco in seventeen days. We anticipate the "Ventura" will be despatched from Auckland about one week after the " Sierra," and I yet hope that you will be able to send a mail by one or other of these steamers. Just in receipt of your telegram advising decision Acting PostmasterGeneral, and, while acknowledging justice of same, trust "Sierra" will receive some mail homeward. [P.O. 07/613.] '

No. 117. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Branch Manager, Oceanic Steamship Company, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, 4th March, 1907. I am afraid tliat you underrate the actual condition of the " Sierra," as I don't expect to see her get away on the 18th. I think that she will be nearer a week late. Until you open up you never know what is really the matter. I think it would be useless to think of sending mails by either vessel. [S.F. Agr. 07/56.]

No. 118. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Branch Manager, Oceanic Steamship Company, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, 4th March, 1907. Very bad news about the service, and it looks as if we were seeing the beginning of the end. How much longer have you to carry on with the American Government, and are you likely to carry on now you know there is no chance whatever of your obtaining increased subsidy? What is the latest news from your principals 1 [S.F. Agr. 07/57.] _____________ __

No. 119. The Hon. the Acting Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. (Telegram.) Wellington, 4th March, 1907. Owing continued disarrangement San Francisco service, request Imperial Post Office cease sending New Zealand mails by that route until further notice. No mails will be sent from New Zealand via San Francisco until service put on a proper footing, and it is demonstrated that steamers ableto keep time-table dates. [S.F. Agr. 07/65.]

No. 120. The Hon. the Acting Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Postmaster-General, Washington. (Telegram.) Wellington, 4th March, 1907. Owing continued disarrangement service, no mails from or to Great Britain will be sent via San Francisco until further notice. [Similar telegram sent to the Secretary, Postmaster-General s Department, Melbourne, an<s. the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco.] [S.F. Agr. 07/61.1