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No. 32. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 29th October, 1908. I have the honour to confirm my cable message of the 17th instant, notifying that the Post-master-General had entered into a contract with the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand for a mail-service from Wellington to Papeete ten times a year connecting with the United States mailservice from Papeete to San Francisco ; that the service would commence from Wellington on the 3rd January next; and that the time between Wellington and San Francisco would be twenty-four, and between Wellington and London thirty-five days. The service is to consist of ten trips between Wellington, Rarotonga, and Tahiti, calling at Rarotonga on the return voyage. The subsidy is £7,000, and will cover tlie carriage of New Zealand mails only from Wellington to San Francisco, the Union Steam Ship Company retaining poundage accruing on mails from America and other countries. A complete time-table will be forwarded you when received. I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. [P.O. 08/3861.]

No. 33. F. E. Baume, Esq., K.C., M.P., Auckland, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — Whitaker Chambers, 6, Wyndham Street, Auckland, 31st October, 1908. I have the honour to enclose a letter from Messrs. Donald and Edenborough, together with the two letters and time-table referred to therein, and desire to ask your early and earnest consideration of same. The matter is one which is causing considerable excitement here, as it is felt to be of moment not only to the industry with the Islands which has been built up by Auckland, but also in view of the possible loss to Auckland of its position of port of call for a regular San Francisco mail-service. The facts that Auckland is so much the nearest port for the steamers of such a service as well as for the steamers trading with the Islands, and that the completion of the through rail connection will enable mail-matter to be delivered in the South without such delays as were experienced in the past, naturally intensify the conviction of Aucklanders that nothing has yet been shown to justify the diversion of vessels engaged in either the Island trade or the direct San Francisco service from Auckland as the first place of call. I feel sure that you will not regard this letter as unwarranted intrusion on the time which I know is so valuable to you just now when you consider the importance of the subject referred to and the value which is attached thereto by my constituents. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Wellington. Fredk. E. Baume. [P.O. 08/3861.]

Enclosure in No. 33. Messrs. Donald and Edenborough, Auckland, to F. E. Baume, Esq., K.C., M.P., Auckland. Sir,— Auckland, 31st October, 1908. Following our interview with you, v/e enclose copies of two letters [not printed], one of which has been published in the Star, and the other of which will appear on Monday. We also enclose suggested time-table [not printed], which shows how in our opinion the wants of New Zealand generally can be supplied without injury to Auckland. Of course this time-table is only tentative, and might vary a day or two according to the class of steamer employed. We shall esteem it a favour if you will place these letters and time-table before the Premier, and ask his early consideration of the scheme proposed. We have, &c, F. E. Baume, Esq., K.C., M.P., Auckland. Donald and Edenborough.

No. 34. The Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Wellington, 2nd November, 1908. Sir — I have already handed you copies of the time-table of the proposed new service, which are submitted for the approval of the Hon. the Postmaster-General. I now enclose extract from a letter dated 31st ultimo from my general manager, dealing with the various points in connection with the-service via Tahiti. This is sent you for your information, and I shall be glad to have your comments thereon at your early convenience. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. W. A. Kennedy, Manager. [P.O. 08/3861(2).]