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No. 13. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir,— Dunedin, 31st May, 1911. Referring to your letter of the 27th instant, with regard to the delivery of mails at San Francisco, I have much pleasure in stating that we have sent the necessary instructions to the captains of the' " Aorangi " and " Maitai," with copy to our San Francisco agents, to the end that the mails shall be so stowed that they will be available for delivery in the manner required by the United States Post Office. I have, &c, R. McK. McLennan, for General Manager. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [Wn.-S.F. 11/127.]

No. 14. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir, — Dunedin, 6th June, 1911. With regard to the delay in arrival of " Aorangi," 11th April, as referred to in your favour of 10th ultimo, I have to submit for your consideration the special circumstances. On the voyage to San Francisco, and after leaving Papeete, one of the crank-shafts was found to be working loose on the screw-shaft, which necessitated delay at sea effecting such repairs as could be executed by the ship's staff, and thereafter the steamer could only proceed at reduced speed. On arrival at San Francisco every effort was made to have a new shaft fitted in quick time, but, although the engineers worked continuously, they were unable to complete the repairs to enable the steamer to sail before the 20th March, instead of her due date —viz., Bth March. We trust that these reasons for the delay will be considered satisfactory, so that the penalty be not enforced. I have, &c, R. McK. McLennan, for General Manager. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [Wn.-S.F. 11/163.]'

No. 15. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir, — Dunedin, 7th June, 1911. Referring to your favour of 20th ultimo [not printed], regarding the sea-postage from United States, we have since received a further remittance through our San Francisco agents as per copy of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General's letter of 20th March from Washington attached [not printed]. I also attach a copy of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General's letter of 9th February [not printed], in case you may not have one to refer to. As the weights paid for from San Francisco to Oceania differ considerably from the weights paid for from Papeete to New Zealand, we can only conclude that the later payment is for mailmatter destined to Papeete only; but, again, the " Navua," 4th November, came from Papeete only, the " Aorangi," 16th November, being our first sailing through from San Francisco. We are, therefore, puzzled to understand the remittances, but send you the copies referred to, as tl.ey may be of assistance in your communication with Washington. I have, &c, R. McK. McLennan, for General Manager. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [Wn.-S.F. 11/133.]

No. 16. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 13th June, 1911. Referring to your letter of the 10th ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that, in view of the Vancouver service being initiated from Auckland on the 4th August next, Government is agreeable to the despatch of the "Maitai," at present time-tabled to leave Auckland on the 26th August, and the " Aorangi " on the 23rd September, from Wellington instead of Auckland. All provisions of the contract are otherwise to remain unaffected. I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. [Wn.-S.F. 11/147.]