P.— 6

48

VANCOUVER SERVICE.

No. 219. The SuchetAiiy, Department of Industries and Commerce, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Department of Industries and Commerce, Wellington, (Memorandum.) 6th September, 1906. Canadian Steam Service. Referring to the subsidised line of trade steamers now running between Wellington and Vancouver, 1 have received the following letter from the Wellington manager of the New Zealand and African STeamship Company (Limited), who act as agents for this service: "We have been asked by the owners of steamers at present employed in the New Zealand—Canadian service if these steamers are not exempt from pilotage charges seeing they are under contract with the Government to carry mails. Our friends are under the impression that under these circumstances steamers are relieved of any pilotage dues incurred. Will you kindly let us know if this happens to be the case, and oblige." I shall be glad if you will advise me whether steamers under contract to carry mails for the New Zealand Government are exempt from any of the charges mentioned in this letter. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. T. E. Donne, Secretary. i Van. Misc. 06/21.)

No. 220. The Skokktahy, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce, Wellington. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 12th September, 1906. Your No. 06/9, 6/9/06. —Canadian Steam Service: The San Francisco mail steamers are, during the continuance of the contract, exempt from charges for harbour dues, dock dues, or other rates levied under " The Harbours Act, 1878," or any amendment thereof, or under any special Act in that behalf, at the Port of Auckland, for any of the steam vessels employed in the outward services under the mail contract. The reason the outward steamers are specially mentioned is that our contract with the company is for outward mails only. It has generally been the custom for ocean-mail steamers under contract to be relieved of dues of the kind. It is not thought that the exemption would apply to the line of trade steamers running between Wellington and Vancouver. I send herewith copy of section 132 of " The Harbours Act, 1878," and also copy of clause 15 of the San Francisco mail-service contract. Thomas Rose, for Secretary. The Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce, Wellington. [Van. Misc. 06/27.]

Enclosure 1 in No. 220. Extract from "The Harbours Act, 1878." 132. Nothing in this Act shall charge with any harbour dues: — (5.) Any steamship carrying mails under any contract made with the Postmaster-General in cases where it is provided by the terms of such contract that such steamships shall be exempt therefrom.

Enclosure 2 in No. 220. Copy op Clause 15 of the San Francisco Mail-service Contract. 15. " During the continuance of this contract, and so long as the same shall be faithfully carried out by the company, no charge for harbour dues, dock dues, or other rates shall be made or levied under " The Harbours Act, 1878," or any amendment thereof, or under any special Act in that behalf, at the Port of Auckland for any of the steam vessels employed in the outward services under this contract, and all such vessels shall be exempt therefrom accordingly."

No. 221. Pacific Mail-sERVICEB, Resolutions relative to, passed by the House of Representatives, Friday the 26th Day of October, 1906." [See No. I.]