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We are at present in communication with Sir James Mills regarding this matter, and we shall probably hear from him by cable from Ottawa within the next few days, and we may then be able to communicate with you further. I have, &c, R. McK. McLennan, for General Manager. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [Vane. Misc. 11/127.] _________________^_

No. 100. 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 reference to the first paragraph in our letter dated Wellington, 17th ultimo, regarding the proposed extension of the period in which applications for space are receivable, we cabled to our Sydney manager to ascertain how an extension would be likely to affect business from Australia. We are informed in reply that an outside steamer is offering there for a series of trips, and that it is considered advisable that we should not delay in allotting space to Australian shippers. The position, therefore, appears to us rather a difficult one. As referred to in our letter of the 17th ultimo, there is the need to take care of the Australian shippers' requirements; but, on the other hand, we recognize that New Zealand shippers of dairy-products cannot very well forecast their space requirements before the spring. Under these circumstances, it occurs to us that the situation may be met by protecting a portion of the space —say, 10,000 cubic feet each—in " Marama " and " Makura," and 5,000 cubic feet in " Zealandia " (being about half the cold-storage in the last-named ship) until Ist September next for New Zealand applications received after Ist July for shipments to be made up till 31st July, 1912. Any surplus space then remaining unapplied for for New Zealand products to be available to Australian shippers whose applications have not been fully satisfied. The balance of the cold-storage beyond the 10,000 cubic feet in " Marama " and " Makura," and 5,000 cubic feet in " Zealandia " to be allotted on Ist July, or as soon after as practicable, to New Zealand and Australian shippers for other than dairy-produce. The reservation of 2,000 cubic feet, referred to in paragraph 2 of our letter of 17th May, to be protected from Ist September onwards, till 31st July, 1912. If our proposal meets with the Minister's approval, we trust we shall thus be able to make an allround satisfactory allotment of the cold-storage space. I have, &c, R. McK."McLennan, for General Manager. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [Vane. Misc. 11/132-3.] ____________

No. 101. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) Wellington, 7th June, 1911. As Sir Joseph Ward might have something to say about the route for mails in connection with his all-red proposals, I thought it advisable to cable him asking if he saw any objection to London Post Office being instructed to send mails by quickest route. So far am without reply. [Vane. Misc. 11/134.] ___________________

No. 102. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, Bth June, 1911. Sir James Mills cables from Montreal that he has instructed our agent, Vancouver, to fix Wednesday for new contract. For our information, he says, probably necessary mails leave London Friday via Quebec, as he understands Saturday via New York not reliable, owing varying speeds steamers. He will make further inquiries on arrival London. [Vane. Misc. 11/136.] [Acknowledged, 10th June, 1911.]

No. 103. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists, Wellington. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 10th June, 1911. Herewith please find copy of a letter [No. 100] from the General Manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, making proposals about protection of the cold-storage space until the Ist September next. If the proposals are satisfactory, I should be obliged if you would obtain the Minister's approval as early as possible. D. Robertson, Secretary.. The Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists, Wellington, [Vane. Misc. 11/137.]