9

*\—6

No. 20. The Director, International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union, Berne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [Translation.] Sir,— Berne, 20th November, 1913. In reply to your letter of the 7th October last, I have the honour to inform you that the Postal Administration of the United States of America has not yet forwarded me its request for a decision on the question of the transit charges from San Francisco to New Zealand and Australia of mails from the United States of America and the United Kingdom, as mentioned in your letter of the Ist September, 1911 [not printed]. If that Administration decides to submit the question to me I shall examine it as soon as I have received the request. I have, kc, Ihe Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Ruffy, Director. P.O. 11/430(5).]

No. 21. The Assistant Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, Bth January, 1914. 1 have the honour to refer to the despatch of the R.M.S. "Tahiti" from Wellington at 3.30 a.m. to-day instead of on the 2nd instant, and to ask that you will furnish any reason why the penalty due under clause 11 of the contract for the late despatch should not be enforced. I have, &c, F. V. Watbes, Assistant Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. [1 , . * T. :sfi/5.] "

No. 22. The Assistant Secretary, General Post Olhce, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 2nd February, 1914. In reference to the despatch of the R.M.S. " Tahiti " from Wellington on the Bth ultimo and its arrival at San Francisco on the 29th idem, I have the honour to request that you will be so good as to inform me how the vessel lost a day and a half on the voyage. I have, &c, F. V. Waters, Assistant Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. [P. & T. 36/20.] .

No. 23. 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, 25th February, 1914. Referring to your favour [letter of Bth January, 1914, No. 21], the cause of the delayed sailing was the inability to get coal into the steamer at Sydney in consequence of the labour difficulties and the Christmas holidays. You will recollect that the waterside workers in Sydney had " blackballed " the New Zealand steamers, and thus, with the holidays following close upon the settlement of the labour difficulty, it was impossible to get the " Tahiti " away from Sj'dney, for want of coal, until 2nd January — i.e., six days late. I have, &c, R. McK. McLennan, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. For General Manager. [P. & T. 3R/5.] _____________________

No. 24. Extract from Report of Voyage, R.M.S. " Tahiti," Bth January to 27th February, 1914. R.M.S. " Tahiti," 27th February, 1914. ******* It will be noticed that we have exceeded our contract hours. This has been due to two effects flowing from the past strike: (1) Because we were a "scab" ship in Sydney we were refused permission to dry-dock, and in consequence had to sail with a foul bottom; (2) and, engaging firemen immediately upon the strike being called off, we were so unfortunate as to pick a rather poor lot. These two influences were the cause of our making passages longer than usual. F. P. Evans, Commander. [P.O. 13/34(1 (2).]

2—P. 6.