43

F.—6

With regard to the timing of the train, I am to say that the Victorian Department state that the special should reach Albury not later than 9.30 a.m., to go forward from there at 10.30 a.m., and arrive at Melbourne at 3.40 p.m., thus allowing one hour for the postal duties before departure of the Adelaide express at 4.40 p.m. The best arrangement, no far as this Department is concerned, would be for the special to leave Sydney as a second division of the express at 8.20 p.m., or only thirty minutes behind the ordinary express, arriving at Albury at 8.22 a.m., and landing the mails at Melbourne at 2.32 p.m. Probably, however, a train run with an interval of only thirty minutes after the express would be of little use to your Department. An alternative arrangement, which would suit the convenience of your Department, would be to start the special train from Sydney at 9.28 p.m., one hour thirty-eight minutes behind the express and thirty-eight minutes behind the mail train. This train, however, would have to pass the ordinary down mail train at Moss Vale, delaying same seventeen minutes, and that train would also be delayed a further twenty minutes crossing the up mail, thus upsetting the whole of the branch line working. In addition, the 4.20 a.m. up mixed train from Harden to Goulburn would be delayed twenty-three minutes, and in order to permit of this train making its connection at Goulburn with the 11.20 a.m. passenger to Sydney, the down express mixed newspaper train would have to be correspondingly delayed at Goulburn. The special train would arrive at Albury at 9.14 a.m., and go forward at 10.30 a.m., which is the latest the Victorian Department would agree to. The running of the train could not be accelerated, the time-table calculated being based on no stops beyond those required for locomotive purposes being made. It will be seen that to run a special train as desired by you would, in the case of a train leaving at 8.20 p.m., allow very little more time than at present, while in the case of the proposed special at 9.28 p.m., it would result in such serious interference and dislocation of the ordinary traffic arrangements as to make it undesirable to run the train. With regard to the notice required to run the train, in either case the necessary arrangements could be made provided notice was given not later than 4 p.m. on the date required to run. In view of the circumstances as herein explained, my Commissioners would be glad to have your further views on the matter before taking any definite action as to the suitability or otherwise of the terms and time-tables proposed.

No. 192. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sin, General Post Office, Wellington, sth March, 1907. Referring to your telegram of the 19th January last, and the Postmaster-General's reply of the 28th idem, as to the terms on which your company would agree to despatch its steamers from Wellington for Sydney every two weeks oii the Friday instead of the Saturday, in place of every three weeks as previously arranged, in order to secure close connection with the outward Suez mail leaving Sydney for London on the following Tuesday, I have the honour to inform you that, in addition to your claim of £200 for accelerating the departure of the " Moeraki " from Wellington on the 22nd ultimo, a voucher for £50, as commutation payment in lieu of the- ordinary gratuity on mails for the voyage in question, has been prepared, and the amount will be paid in due course. I shall be glad if you will claim the sum in any future vouchers rendered. I have, &c, D. Robertson, for Secretary. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. [.Suez Conn. 07/58.)

No. 193. The Hon. Secretary, Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, Blenheim, to the Hon. C. H. Mills, M.H.R., Wellington. Sin, — Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, Blenheim, 6th March, 1907. 1 have the honour, by instruction of my Council, to forward you a copy of resolution passed at its last meeting, and to ask that you will kindly place the matter before the proper authorities. I have, &c, The Hon. C. H. Mills, M.H.R., Wellington. E. Mead, Hon. Secretary.

Enclosure in No. 193. Copy op Resolution passed at Meeting of Cooncil of Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, field on 27th February. "That, as the San Francisco mail-service has now practically become defunct, this Chamber respectfully asks the Government, to promptly make other arrangements which will give a regular service between New Zealand and the United Kingdom." The Hon. the Postmaster-General, For your consideration. Yours, &c, I lth March, 1907. C. H. Mills. [S.F. Agr. 07/84.]