13

F.-6

agreement enclosed with our letter of the 2nd April, both of which documents have been confirmed as accepted by us, form the complete agreement with the Government of French Oceania. lam sorry that we are not yet able to send you the official copies. These were to be printed at Papeete, iind we have been in expectation of them by each mail. We are writing to our agents at Papeete, and hope to be able to send to you the printed agreement at an early date. I have, &c, R. McK. McLennan, The Secretary. General Post Office, Wellington. For General Manager. [Acknowledged 2nd October, 1912.] [Wn.-N.K 12/175.)

No. 32. The Secretary. Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce, to the Secretary, General Post Office. Wellington. (Memorandum.) Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce, Yours of the 4th instant. Wellington, 28th September, li>l2. I note the opinion of the Law Office in regard to the powers of the Union Steam Ship Company under the mail-contract to refuse liability for loss occasioned by delay or failure to ship goods received by it at the Cook Islands for shipment to New Zealand by the mail-steamers. The company appears to have good grounds for the attitude taken up. Cook Island shippers, however, ask whether matters canuot be placed on a more satisfactory footing for them, by providing jn the contract a twenty-four hours' stop at Rarotonga, as in the case of Tahiti, and for the reservation of a certain amount of space for Cook Islands requirements. Is there any possibility of your being able to arrange this '. 1 understand that except in one instance the steamers have always remained long enough at Rarotonga to take all the cargo offering, and that the provisions relating to adherence to time-table have been made a little more elastic. Perhaps it can safely lie assumed that no more trouble will arise except, of course, from unforeseen circumstances. I' , . 8. Povk, Secretary. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [Wn.-B.F. 12/196.]

No. 33. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce, Wellington. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 3rd October, 1912. It would not be desirable to provide in the contract for a twenty-four hours' stop at Rarotonga. If, however, you think it is desirable to approach the Union Company for the reservation of a certain amount of space for Cook Island requirements, this can be done. 1 understand, however, that the company is only too anxious to get the Rarotongan fruit. The contractors recently asked for authority to detain the steamers at Rarotonga up to thirty hours after arrival at that port in the event of the departure of steamers from San Francisco being late. This was agreed to, the understanding being that the authority would not be availed of save under exceptional circumstances. This should, I think, fully meet the case as regards the stay at Rarotonga. D. Robertson, Secretary. The Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce, Wellington. Wn.-S.F. 12/197.1

No. 34. The Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce. Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce, (Memorandum.) Wellington, 10th October, 1912. I forward herewith a copy of a letter of 25th ultimo, addressed to the Hon. Minister of Agriculture by the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Wellington, in connection with the New ZealandSan Fraccieco mail-service. You will notice from the letter that the Wellington merchants are complaining of the great disadvantage owing to the steamer stopping at Rarotonga for a few hours only, and thus often necessitating the carrying of cargo on to Tahiti. This, it is alleged, is fast killing what outward trade Wellington has with Rarotonga. I shall be glad if you will kindly inform mc whether anything can be done to ensure that the mailsteamers wait long enough at Rarotonga to discharge all cargo. Can anything be done under the terms of the contract ? F. S. Pope, Secretary. The Secretary, General Post Office. Wellington. [\Yn.--N.K. 12, 194.J