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No. 84. 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, 23rd February, 1915. I beg to acknowledge receipt, of your letter of the 18th instant, and regret to learn that it has been decided to discontinue payment of the subsidy for the Wellington-Sydney mailservice as from the 18th March, and note that the usual gratuity will then be paid for. mail-matter despatched by the Wellington-Sydney steamers. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. D. A. Aiken, General Manager.'

No. 85. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 4th March, 1915. I have the honour to inform you that for the present the route via Suez will not be used for New Zealand mails other than those containing specially addressed correspondence and insured letters for the United Kingdom and the Continent of Europe. The mails will ht sent only via Vancouver and via San Francisco. I have, &c, W. R. Morris, The Secretary, General Post Office. London. For the Postmaster-General. [Letter in similar terms also sent to the Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne.]

No. 86. The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. ♦ (Telegram.) Sydney, 10th March, 1915. " Manuka " arrived early this (Wednesday) morning. Shall we hold your United Kingdom mails for " Orsova " [Suez route] or send them by " Sonoma " [San Francisco]?

No. 87. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 10th March, 1915. Send " Manuka's " mails by " Sonoma."

No. 88. The Assistant Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 11th March, 191-5. In refei-enee to your company's claim for £288 9s. 3d., the subsidy for the contract trip of the s.s. " Manuka " commenced at Wellington on the sth instant, I have the honour to inform you that, as the " Manuka " did not reach Sydney until yesterday morning, the connection with the mail-service via Suez was missed; and to ask for any reasons why the penaltyprovided by the contract for late arrival should not be imposed. I have, &c, F. V. Waters, Assistant Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 89. The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 24th March, 1915. Owing breakdown unloading-gear " Mokoia " eighty-three bags Egypt missed Melbourne express. Remainder mail forwarded in time catch "Mongolia," Adelaide. Next boat, "Marama," due London Ist May next. Suez mail " Malwa " leaving Adelaide 6th April, due Suez 4th May. Propose sending Egypt mail thereby; cable confirmation.