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be despatched from Sydney, and as to what steamers are to be employed, and their dates of sailing to connect this service with the New Zealand ports >. The Right Hon. Sir J. G. Wars. —The accelerated service by the P. and O. steamers commenced in February last. The day of departure from Sydney is the same as formerly—namely, Tuesday—and the connection by the Friday steamer from Wellington is as close as can be made. The inward mails by the P. and 0. steamers are due to arrive at Sydney on Monday, but this cannot be entirely depended upon. The mails sometimes reach Sydney on Tuesday. The steamer for New Zealand leaves Sydney on Wednesday. The improved service by the Orient steamers does not commence until 1910. In the meantime the mails almost invariably arrive at Sydney on Wednesday, one or two hours before the departure of the steamer for New Zealand, which leaves at 1 p.m. The steamers to be employed for the Wellington-Sydney and Sydney-Auckland connections will be those of the Union Company and the Huddart-Parker Company. As the arrival of the Suez mails at Sydney is so irregular, no better arrangements than the present can be made without a complete reorganization of the intercolonial and coastal services of the Union and Huddart-Parker Companies, the cost of which would be very great. With the exception that once a fortnight mails from London have to lie at Sydney from one to two days before the sailing of the steamer for New Zealand, the connections are very close. [Suez Conn. 08/87.]

No. 93. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam "Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, Bth February, 1909. In connection with the opening of the Main Trunk Line I am informed that the mail-train from Auckland will arrive at Wellington at 4.25 p.m. 1 should, therefore, be glad if you would be good enough to arrange for the departure of the Sydney steamer on Friday at 5 p.m. in place of 4 p.m., the hour at present fixed, so as to insure the connection of the outward English and Australian mails from Auckland and offices en route. It is anticipated that this alteration will not seriously inconvenience your company, in view of the fact that the steamers as a rule have not hitherto left until about 5 p.m., and sometimes later. In the event of the Main Trunk train running late at any time on Friday, I have arranged so that timely advice will be given to your local office, in order to allow arrangements to be made for the detention of the steamer. I have, &c, W. R. Morris, Acting-Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. [Sue/. Conn. 09/6.]

No. 94. The Assistant General Manager. Union Steam Ship Company (at Wellington), to the ActingSecretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Companv of New Zealand (Limited), Sir,— Wellington, 18th February, 1909. Referring to the correspondence which has passed between us with regard to the alteration of the sailing-hour of our Wellington-Sydney steamers, I have pleasure in advising that this has been fixed at 5 p.m., as requested by you, the alteration to take effect from to-morrow. I have, &c, D. A. Aiken, The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Assistant General Manager. [Acknowledged 22nd February, 1909.] [I'd. 09/080.]

No. 95. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir,— Dunedin. 18th March, 1909. I have now the honour to enclose two copies of the agreement for the performance of the W r ellington-Sydney mail servile duly signed and sealed by members of the Board, and shall be pleased to have a copy returned with the signature of the I'ostmaster-General. As you desired it, we executed the deed without making the alterations we suggested, in order to make the terms of the contract as clear as they are set forth in the correspondence. The latter, however, will always be available to refer to in the unlikely event of any question arising. Kindly send me one or two extra copies of the contract if you can spare them. I have, &c, T. W. Whitson, for General Manager. The Acting-Secretary, (leneral Post Office, Wellington. (Suez Conn. 09/11.]