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«arry mail agents on the steamers. By a slightly fuller distribution, to which I have no doubt the United States Post Office will agree, the American mails, like the English mails, may be prepared for sorting in New Zealand so as to be distributed without loss of time. New Zealand already sorts United States correspondence a good deal more elaborately. I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, 244 California Street, San Francisco, Cal. [Wn.-S.P. 10/114.J No. 28. House of Representatives, 7th September, 1910. Mr. Stallworthy to ask the Postmaster-General, Whether, seeing that the new San Francisco - New Zealand mail-service is to be established, with Auckland the final port of departure, it may be presumed that this arrangement has been come to for good business reasons; and, if so, what reasons can he give, other than those of a parochial character, for altering the arrangement in the event of a New Zealand-Vancouver service being also arranged ? The Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward.—The continuance of the service after the first year is dependent upon its performance to the satisfaction of the Government, and due consideration will be given before the expiry of the first term whether the service is to be continued under the present arrangement. Any alteration necessary would be on account of geographical and not parochial interests. The time occupied in steaming on the coast of New Zealand is an important consideration. [Wn.-S.P. 10/54.] No. 29. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. Sir. — Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, Bth September, 1910. I have the honour, in confirmation of my telegram of the 30th, to inform you that a contract is to be entered into with the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited) for a mail-service from New Zealand to San Francisco. The port of departure will be Auckland, and the port of arrival on the return voyage Wellington ; and the service in both directions will be by way of Rarotonga and Papeete. The service will consist of thirteen round voyages per annum, and will commence with a departure from Auckland on the 22nd October next. The first departure from San Francisco will be on the 16th November. The time between New Zealand and San Francisco will be twenty-one days. The service supersedes the 'present Wellington-Papeete service. No doubt you informed the Imperial and the Paris Post Offices, in accordance with my request. You will be interested to learn that the contract has been secured by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand. The steamers proposed to be used for the present are the " Aorangi " and the "Maitai." About £20,000 has been expended recently on the improvement of the former vessel. Ample cold-storage space will be provided on both steamers. Although the time —twentyone days —is fairly long, it should enable mails to be delivered in London in thirty-one days from Auckland. I may add for your information that the prospects of the service as a trade orle are very promising. The subsidy payable by New Zealand is £1,666 13s. 4d. for each round voyage. A contract is being prepared and copies of it will be sent you later. When the service is inaugurated telegrams in the following form will be sent you from this office: " Auckland - San Francisco, 22nd." This is to be understood to mean that the mailsteamer had left Auckland for San Francisco in performance of the service on the date mentioned. I should be glad if you will give the information to the Imperial Post Office. The London Post Office has been requested to notify the Post and Telegraph Department by telegram of the arrival in London of mails despatched from Auckland under the new contract. I have, &c, The High Commissioner for New Zealand, London. J. G. Ward. [Wn.-S.F. 10/70.J No. 30. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmaster - General, Washington. General Post Office, Wellington, loth September, 1910. Wellington-San Francisco Mail-service. I have the honour to confirm the Postmaster-General's telegram of the 30th ultimo, as under:—[See No. 17.] A contract is being prepared, and copies of it will be sent you later. The Postmaster-General has no doubt you will agree with liim that this is a service well renewed, and hopes he may ask for your co-operation in order to secure the very best despatch for New Zealand mails each way across the American Continent.