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No. 104. The High Commissioner to the Hon. the Acting Prime Minister. (Telegram.) London, 15th June, 1911. Pacific Cable Board : With reference to my letter of 7th April [not printed], please telegraph at once decision regarding continuance of mail-steamers calling at Fanning Island. [Vane. Misc. 11/156.] ________________________ •

No. 105. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 15th June, 1911. Referring our letter 6th June : Obliged if you will let us have early reply, so that we may fix closingdate for applications without delay. [Vane. Misc. 11/139.]

No. 106. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) Wellington, 16th June, 1911. Pacific Cable Board pressing by cable for decision about mail-steamers calling Fanning Island. Could you yet enable me to reply ? [Vane. Misc. 11/157.]

No. 107. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 16th June, 1911. It is arranged Sir James Mills will discuss Fanning Island call with Lord Strathcona and Sir Joseph Ward when he reaches London, early next week. [Vane. Misc. 11/158.] [Message communicated by Acting Prime Minister to High Commissioner on same date.]

No. 108. The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward (in London) to the High Commissioner. (Memorandum.) Hotel Cecil, Strand, London, 17th June, 1911. I have seen both the Postmaster-General and Sir Wilfrid Laurier on the subject of the journey across America, and now attach a memorandum I have received from Sir Matthew Nathan on the matter. Sir Wilfrid is also cabling the Canadian Pacific Railway Company to ascertain whether the train journey across cannot be reduced. In the meantime the suggestion contained in Sir Matthew Nathan's communication should be agreed to. J. G. Ward. The High Commissioner for New Zealand, London. [Vano. Misc. 11/323.] „

Enclosure in No. 108. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward (in London). (Memorandum.) General Post Office, London, 16th June, 1911. Apparently a Wednesday sailing from Vancouver is contemplated. Posting by Cunard via New York on Saturday week previous means eleven days to Vancouver and twenty days to New Zealand — i.e., a thirty-one days' service against thirty-three days and a half by Suez route. If a Thursday sailing from Vancouver were arranged for, the mail could go by Canadian packet and Halifax, leaving the Friday week previous, and the time taken would be 13 +20 = 33 days—about the same as the mail via Suez. I am inclined to advise that arrangements should be left to take their usual course — i.e., that we should be allowed to arrange for the latest possible posting, having in view the connection at Vancouver. M. Nathan. The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, London. [Vane. Misc. 11/322.]