OCEAN MAIL-SERVICES (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO). [In continuation of Paper F.-6, presented on the 23rd September, 1897.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1897 Session II, F-06a

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Sess. 11.—1897. NEW ZBALA ND.

OCEAN MAIL-SERVICES (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO). [In continuation of Paper F.-6, presented on the 23rd September, 1897.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

CANADIAN-PACIFIC MAIL-SERVICE. No. 1. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London S W bm ' — _ . . 19th August, 1897. Referring to my letter of the Bth April last [see No. 57, F.-6, Sess. 11., 18971 relative to the Vancouver mail-service to New Zealand, I beg herewith to transmit copy of the letter which I have received in reply to the letter which I addressed to the Secretary at the General Post Office on the 6th April last, copy of which I also enclose. I have, &c, tv -a -r, tit »• Walter Kennaway, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. For the Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. The Agent-General to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London S VV bm >— _ 6th April, 1897. 1 have the honour to inform you that, in view of the termination in November next of the contract under which the mail-service via San Francisco between New Zealand and this country is maintained my Government have in contemplation the establishment of an alternative mail-service by way of Vancouver so as to secure, with that via San Francisco, a fast fortnightly exchange of mails between Great Britain and New Zealand. s Owing to its geographical position, New Zealand, as you are aware, is not one of the contracting parties to the Federal or Suez mail-service, and up to the present time no ocean mailservice has met the colony s requirements so satisfactorily as that via San Francisco, circumstances which will, no doubt, have their due weight with the Imperial Government in considering the question as to contributing towards the cost of a renewed San Francisco service, and also in assisting the colony to establish and maintain an alternative mail line by way of Vancouver . M 7 Government inform me that, in negotiating for the renewal of the San Francisco service it is intended to stipulate for shortening the time between New Zealand and San Francisco and for improving the service generally. Under these circumstances I have the honour to request that you will bring the matter under the notice of the Postmaster-General, with a view of ascertaining, for the information of my Government to what extent the Imperial Government will contribute towards the cost of a mail-service ma Vancouver subsidised by my Government, and securing, with that via San Francisco, a fast fortnightly exchange of mails between this country and New Zealand. _. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office. W. P. Reeves, Agent-General.

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Enclosure 2 in No. 1. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Agent-General. Sir,— General Post Office, London, 17th August, 1897. Your letter of the 6th April last, on the subject of the New Zealand mail-service, has been carefully considered by the Postmaster-General, who directs me to point out that, as regards the line via San Francisco, the Treasury have repeatedly declined to give any contribution towards the cost of the service to the New Zealand Government, except the sea-postage payable on the mails from this country under the regulations of the Postal Union. On this point lam to refer you to the letter from this office dated the 13th of April, 1893 [see Enclosure in No. 45, F.-6, 1893], and to add that the Duke of Norfolk is not prepared to recommend their Lordships to alter the decision therein communicated. As regards the proposed Vancouvei service, I am to inform you that, after careful examination of the proposals for the establishment of a mail-service with Australasia, via Canada, made at the Ottawa Conference, the Imperial Government has consented to contribute towards the cost of the scheme the sum of £51,500 a year. This sum is to be applied specifically to the establishment of a fast mail-service between this country and Canada ; but one of the conditions on which it was promised was that it should be regarded as in aid of the accomplishment of the Pacific, no less than of the Atlantic, section of the Ottawa scheme. It was at the same time stated that no additional subsidy was to be looked for from the Home Government towards the improvement of the service on the Pacific, the arrangement of which is to be left to the Governments of Canada and the colonies of Australasia. While the form which the Imperial contribution to the Canadian-Australasian mail-service has taken may not be precisely that contemplated by the New Zealand Government, I am to point out that, by the establishment of a fast service direct from a Canadian to a British port, the colony will be relieved from the payment to the United States of transit postage on such of its mails for this country as are sent by that service instead of via New York. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. H. Buxton Forman.

No. 2. The Right Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. Sir, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 6th October, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th August last, enclosing copy of the one you addressed to the Secretary of the Imperial Post Office on the 6th April, and of his reply thereto of the 17th August, on the subject of a subsidy for the Vancouver mail-service. I note the intentions of the British Post Office towards the two Pacific mailservices. The correspondence will be laid on the table of the House of Representatives, to allow of its perusal by members before the question of our ocean mail-services comes on for discussion. I have, &c, The Hon. W. P. Reeves, R. J. Seddon. Agent-General for New Zealand. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,450 copies), £1 :is.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington,—lB97. Price 3d.