17

F.—6

AUSTRALIA-SUEZ SERVICES.

WELLINGTON-SYDNEY CONNECTION, ETC.

No. 52. The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce. Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmaster - General, Wellington. Sir, — Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Wellington, New Zealand, 30th August, 1909. i mi instructed to call your attention to the frequency —almost amounting to absolute regularity -of the occurrence of the arrival of the Union Steam Ship Company's s.s. " Mokoia " at Auckland, on the fortnightly trips from Sydney, too late to allow of the mails being transferred to the through train leaving the same day for southern centres. A delay of a full day is thus caused in the receipt of Australian, British, and other mails at all places south of Auckland, to the manifest inconvenience of the mercantile community. This feature is rendered the more striking by the fact that the intermediate steamer usually—in fact, practically always —arrives in time to transfer its mails the same day. 1 am instructed to ask yon to be good enough to cause inquiry to be made into the circumstances, with the view of taking such steps as shall cause a stop to be put to this serious inconvenience. 1 have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. S. Carroll, Secretary. |Suez Conn. 09/49.]

. No. 53. The Secretary, General Posl Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship (bmpany, Dunedin. Sin, General Post Office, Wellington, 2nd September, 1909. 1 have the honour to forward herewith copy of a letter addressed to the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral by the Secretary of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, requesting that steps be taken by this Department to obviate the inconvenience caused to the mercantile community by the frequent failure of the mail despatched from Sydney to Auckland by the s.s. " Mokoia " to connect with the mail train leaving Auckland on Sunday nights. As explained by the Chamber of Commerce, when the connection is missed the mails for southern places are delayed for a day. The PostmasterGeneral will be pleased to learn that you are able to arrange for the connection to be made under ordinary conditions. In May, 1907, I communicated unofficially with you in this matter. Perhaps you will kindly refer to that correspondence [not printed]. I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited). Dunedin. [Suez Conn. 09/54.]

No. 54: The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Wellington. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 10th September, 1909. I have the honour, by direction, to refer to your letter of the 30th ultimo, requesting that steps be taken by this Department to obviate the inconvenience caused to the mercantile community by the frequent failure of the mail despatched from Sydney to Auckland by the s.s. " Mokoia " to connect with the mail-train leaving Auckland on Sunday nights. The matter was referred to the Union Steam Ship Company for its favourable consideration. In reply, the company explains that the delay on the last trip or two of the " Mokoia " was caused by adverse weather-conditions, and that under ordinary circumstances the steamer is easily capable of connecting with the mail-train at Auckland on Sunday nights. In view, however, of the forthcoming passenger season, the company has arranged for the " Maheno " to enter the service, running fortnightly between Auckland and Sydney from the 11th proximo. 1 have-, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary, The Secretary, Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Wellington, [Suez Conn. 09/59.] 3—F. 6,