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No. 41. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Washington. (Telegram.) Wellington, 26th March, 1908. " Foreric " from Auckland to-day carries mails to Guaymas. Assume you will arrange transportation to United States. [Note. —This is the first occasion on which steamers of the Weir line called at Auckland on the voyage to San Francisco.] [P.O. 08/456 (3).]

No. 42. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, Bth April, 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st January last with respect to the transhipment at Auckland of United States mails for Australia from the " Foreric " and " Yeddo " respectively on the 30th September and 28th October last. In reply, I have to inform you that the delivery of the mails at Sydney was materially expedited by their transhipment at Auckland. On the authority conveyed in your letter, credit is being taken in the general account with your Department for the sum of £120 7s. 3d., which will be paid to the Union Steam Ship Company for its-service. According to this Department's reading of Article IV, section 3, last paragraph, of the Rome Convention, as the mails had already been conveyed from San Francisco to Auckland, the long-sea distance rate of 8 francs per kilogram for letters and post-cards, and 1 franc per kilogram for other articles, should be applied for the entire sea transit of the mails. The proportionate amount therefore due the Union Steam Ship Company for the Auckland-Sydney conveyance is at the rate of 1 franc 42 centimes per kilogram for letters and post-cards and 18 centimes per kilogram for other articles. Were the rate quoted by you adopted—viz., 4 francs per kilogram for letters and post-cards and 50 centimes per kilogram for other articles—the amount payable to the Union Steam Ship Company would be £335 13s. lid. instead of £120 7s. 3d. It is considered, however, that Article IV, paragraph 3, section 26, of the Rome Convention referring to maritime transits not exceeding 1,500 nautical miles performed by the same line of vessels does not apply to the present case, seeing that the transit was performed by vessels of two different lines—viz., the Weir Line and the Union Steam Ship Company. It is assumed that you desire that such transhipments shall continue to be made when the transmission of the mails will be materially expedited thereby. I should therefore be glad if you would arrange for the necessary weight-statements to be sent to this office for each mail, so that claim may be made in due course for the Auckland-Sydney or Wellington-Sydney transit, as the case may be. The statements are required in respect of the mails indicated on the attached sheet. As explained in my letter of the 9th January last, the " Quito's " mail had to be sent to Australia by way of Auckland and Wellington. I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. The Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Foreign Mails, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C. [S.F. Payts. 08/23.]

Enclosure in No. 42. Statement showing Date of Arrival at Auckland and Transhipment of American Mails from San Francisco.

Number of Date of Arrival at Auckland. Name of Steamer. Bags. Hampers. Particulars. Name of Steamer transhipped to Route. 1907. Nov. 22 .. Aeon 286 2 Prom San Pranoiscoand New York London to Sydney Prom San Prancisco and New York London to Sydney 1907. Mokoia, Nov. 25 Direct from Auckland to Sydney. Deo. 24 .. Quito 2 268 i (1.) Takapuna, Dec. 25 (2.) Marama (at Wellington), Deo. 27 1908. Zcalandia, Jan 13 (1.) Via Wellington. (2.) Wellington to Sydney. 1908. Jan 12 .. 4 Boveric .. 301 3 Prom San Prancisco and New York London to Sydney To Noumea Prom San Prancisco and New York Prom London To Noumea Prom San Prancisco and New York Prom London to Sydney To Noumea. Direct from Auckland to Sydney. Feb. 17 .. Foreric .. 2 2 270 4 Mokoia, Feb. 17 Direct from Auckland to Sydney. Mar. 9 .. Yeddo .. 2 2 282 i Zealandia, Maroh 9 Direct from Auckland to Sydney. 2 2 [S.F. y-ts. 08, 28'