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No. 117. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) Wellington, 28th June, 1911. Vancouver service : Sir Joseph Ward has seen Imperial Postmaster-General and Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Post Office suggests that arrangements should take usual course —that is, Post Office should be left to arrange for latest possible posting, keeping in view Vancouver connection. Sir Wilfrid cabled Canadian Pacific Railway to ascertain whether train journey could be reduced. In meantime Sir Joseph agrees to Post Office suggestion. As sailing-day fixed for Wednesday, arrangements appear to be satisfactory. Apparently there is desire to use Canadian route throughout if possible. [Vane. Misc. 11/171.]

No. 118. The Hon. the Acting Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. (Telegram.) Wellington, 29th June, 1911. Vancouver service: Agreed leave Vancouver Wednesday, 6th September, and every four weeks thereafter. Demurrage forty-eight hours if required Vancouver. [Vane. Misc. 11/172.]

No. 119. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa. (Telegram.) Wellington, 30th June, 1911. Vancouver service : Advertising departure Vancouver \ Wednesday, 6th- September, then fourweekly. Demurrage Vancouver if required forty-eight hours without charge. London will arrange latest possible posting, keeping in view Vancouver connection. Sir Wilfrid Laurier has cabled Canadian Pacific inquiring whether reduction train journey possible. [Vane. Misc. 11/173.]

No. 120. The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward (in London) to the Hon. the Acting Prime Minister. (Telegram.) London, 4th July, 1911. W r iTH reference to your telegram of 27th, refrigerated space Vancouver: First, Government cannot under any circumstances entertain proposal paying dead freight; secondly, if you think company justified supposing shipment from New Zealand for first year will not be large, am inclined to agree to their proposal retain one-third space for New Zealand till Ist September, also 2,000 carcasses sheep afterwards. Think unfair expect company lose certainty Sydney shipments in view comparatively small subsidy New Zealand is paying. [Vane. Misc. 11/179.]

No. 121. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists, Wellington. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 6th July, 1911. The following cable has been received from London, dated 4th July [see No. 120]. Will you kindly bring it under the notice of your Minister as early as possible, and inform me what reply is to be sent to the Union Steam Ship Company ? D. Robertson, Secretary. The Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists, Wellington. [Vane. Misc. 11/183.] y

No. 122. The Hon. the Acting Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. (Telegram.) Wellington, 6th July, 1911. Via Vancouver request Imperial Post Office despatch same mails as now despatched via San Francisco, excepting Rarotonga, which omit. Provincial offices despatching single mail to address Auckland via Vancouver. [Vane. Misc. 11/178.]

No. 123. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) Wellington, 6th July, 1911. Are you yet in position reply about call at Fanning Island ? [Vane. Misc. 11/184.]