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CONNECTION AT FIJI: CALL AT FANNING ISLAND, ETC.

No. 82. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Colonial Postmaster, Suva. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd September, 1907. I have the honour to inform you that the inward Vancouver mails, which arrived at Suva by the " Manuka " on the 2nd instant, and were taken on to Brisbane, did not reach Auckland until the 19th idem. The " Mokoia," which conveyed the mails from Sydney, was due in Auckland on the 15th September, but was delayed on account of having to return to Sydney towing the disabled steamer " Monowai." It appears, however, that had the mails been transhipped to the " Wanaka," which left Suva on the 6th instant, they would have reached Auckland on the 12th idem. It is alleged that the " Wanaka " is not running to a time-table, and this, no doubt, influenced you in sending the mails on to Brisbane. In order that you may be in a position to determine as early as possible the best mode of despatching the transhipped Vancouver mails to New Zealand, perhaps you could see your way to arrange with the local office of the Union Steam Ship Company that it shall furnish you regularly with particulars of the movements of the " Wanaka " and the company's other vessels. I also will write the head office of the company in New Zealand. I should mention that complaint of the delay on the mails under notice was made in the Auckland and Wellington newspapers. I have, &c, The Colonial Postmaster, Suva. D. Robertson, Secretary. [Van. Conn. 07/54.]

No. 83. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Si R ,_ General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd September, 1907. I have the honour to refer to the very serious delay which occurred to the inward Vancouver mails received at Auckland on the 19th instant, through their being sent forward from Suva to Brisbane instead of direct to Auckland by the " Wanaka." I enclose copy of a letter which I have addressed to the Colonial Postmaster, Suva, on the matter, which explains the situation and probably accounts for the action of the Colonial Postmaster.' Perhaps you will see your way to make the arrangements indicated therein for giving the Colonial Postmaster the best information possible at the latest date possible, to enable him to determine the proper route of the Vancouver mails. I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. [Van. Conn. 07/55.]

No. 84. House of Representatives, 25th September, 1907. 1. Mr. Massey to ask the Postmaster-General, Whether he will expedite matters in connection with the mails from Great Britain to New Zealand via Vancouver, by arranging for a steamer to be at Suva in time to take over the mails upon arrival there, and bring them on to Auckland without delay ? _ Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward.—There are not at present any mails received from Great Britain via Vancouver unless letters happen to be specially addressed by that route. In view, however, of the importance of the American mails, inquiries are being made whether the Union Company can arrange to make a closer connection from Suva to New Zealand. The outward steamer from New Zealand to Suva connects closely with the outward Vancouver mail. [Van. Conn. 07/53.] _^__^____^_^__^^__

No. 85. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), g IR _ Dunedin, 27th September, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, and in reply I may state that our Suva manager will be pleased at all times to furnish the Chief Postmaster at that port with the latest information regarding the movements of non-time-table steamers, and we have written by the outgoing mail to the above effect. I have, &c, D. A. Aiken, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. For General Manager. [Van. Conn. 07/57.1

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