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No. 21. The General Managed, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 22nd September, 1910. DiiAFT of proposed contract for conveyance mails between New Zealand San Francisco approved. Returning draft and posting particulars freights and passages to-morrow. [Wn.-S.F. 10/90.] [Read here Nos. 20 and 21, F.-6a, 1910.] No. 22. The Secretary, General Post Omce, Wellington, to the Director, Division of Commerce and Tourists, Departmeni of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists, Wellington. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 28th September, 1910. Will you kindly examine the enclosed draft contract, so far as it affects your Department, and Id me know as early as possible whether the passenger-rates and freights are satisfactory. The company explains that the passenger rates are the maximum rates, being the same as charged to Vancouver. Slightly lower rates will for the present be charged, hut the company desiret the option of increasing them t" the Vancouver standard viz., those shown in print—if and when better steamers are employed. D. Robertson, Secretary. The Director, Division of Commerce and Tourists, Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists. Wellington. i\\ ii. -S.K. 10/104.1 [Read here No. 24, F.-6a, 1910.] No. 23. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent fob New Zealand, San Francisco. Sin. General Post Office, Wellington, Bth October, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th ultimo. 1 am sorry that my telegram of the Kith August was mutilated in transmission, the words "on voyage" being substituted for "one voyage." Mv subsequent letters will have explained the position fully as regards the mail-service. The enclosed parliamentary paper jF. (i.\, 1910], containing all the correspondence on the subject of the new service, will apprise you of the details of the negotiations which preceded the acceptance of the Union Company's offer. It is to be hoped that the service is only the precursor of something better, and that when the first year lias elapsed it will be to the interests of the I'nion Company to put faster steamers on the route. In the meantime the " Aorangi " and " Maitai," which have both excellent passengeraccomi lation and large refrigerating-space, should be regarded as making a good commeim nient in a service entirely controlled by this Dominion. I have no doubt that you will keep yourself in touch with the different steamers, and. when necessary, endeavour to induce the railroad companies to specially facilitate the transport of the mails across America. While tlie service is nominally a "21-days one. the Union Company has not the least doubt that the steamers will invariably arrive at San Francisco at 7 a.m. on the due date, making the voyage 20A days. This arrival should enable connections to be made with the fast steamer leaving New York on the Tuesday following, thus giving a 81-days' service between New Zealand and London. 1 have, &c, D. Robertson. Secretary. 11. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, 244 California Street, San Francisco, Cal. [Wn.-S.F. 10/127.]

No. 24. The Righi Hon. the Piume Minister to the Secretary, Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin. Sin,— Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 10th October. 1910. I am in receipt of your letter of the 12th September, forwarding copy of a resolution passed by your executive expressing approval of the proposed new San Francisco mail-service. which is noted, and for which T thank you. I have, <fee, J. G. Ward. Peter Barr, Esq., Secretary, Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin. Wn.-S.F. 10/128.]