F.—6

3

SAN FRANCISCO SERVIOE.

INCIDENTS OF PACIFIC TRANSIT, ETC. (BY OCEANIC COMPANY).

No. 1. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Agent, Oceanic Steamship Company. Auckland. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 29th August, 1908. I have the honour to enclose herein statement of mails [not printed] from Fiji conveyed from Auckland to San Francisco by the steamers of the Oceanic Steamship Company during the year ended the 31st December, 1907. Payment of the amount due—viz., £6 lis. 4d.—will be made n the usual course. The account now sent is the final one with your company as far as this Department is concerned. [See Nos. 2 and 7. F.-6. 1908.] I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. J. C. Spedding, Agent, Oceanic Steamship Company, Auckland. [S.F. Payte., 08/fio.]

No. 2. The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Auckland, to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Si R; Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Auckland, 7th April, 190'.). I am instructed to advise you that at a general meeting of members of this Chamber held yesterday the following resolution was unanimously passed : " That the Government be requested to take immediate steps to arrange for the reinstatement of the San Francisco mail-service to New Zealand, with Auckland as first port of call." I beg to enclose clippings [not printed] from the daily papers, reporting the proceedings at the meeting, which set out the views of the speakers in supporting the resolution, also an article on the subject from to-day's Herald. I am directed to respectfully ask that you will give the subject of the resolution your favourable consideration, and favour the Chamber with a reply at your early convenience. I have, &c The Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Wellington. A. J. Denniston, Secretary. [Acknowledged 23rd April.] [S.F. Misc. 09/17.]

MAILS BY WEIR LINK,

No. 3. The General Agent, Australian Mail Line, Auckland, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. g IR Customs Street, Auckland, 24th January, 1908. As you are perhaps aware, the steamers of the Australian Mail Line have up to the present been sailing direct from Newcastle to San Francisco, without calling in at Auckland. I think there is no doubt whatever that if the vessels called here it would be an advantage to the general public to send their letters by this route. The reason for the steamers not calling here is the imposition of Harbour Board and Customs dues. I understand that, in the event of the mail contiact be ng entered into, these charges would be conceded. I think if they were so it could be arranged for a vessel to call in monthly on the return journey. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. J- C. Spedding. [S.F. Agr. 08/12.]