OCEAN MAIL-SERVICES (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO). [In continuation of papers presented on the 20th September, 1898.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1898 Session I, F-06b

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1898. NEW ZEALAND.

OCEAN MAIL-SERVICES (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO). [In continuation of papers presented on the 20th September, 1898.]

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

INDEX. Page Page San Francisco service— Vancouver service— Eenewal of service .. .. .. .. 1 Departure from American ports .. .. 3 Departure from American porte: Hawaiian annexation 2

SAN FBANCISCO MAIL-SEEVICB. EBNBWAL OF SEEVICE. No. 1. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Seceetaby, General Post Office, Sydney.. (Telegram.) Wellington, 15th September, 1898. Question renewal San Francisco Vancouver services is to be considered by House of Bepresentatives in week or ten days. Postmaster-General would be glad learn intentions your department, whether will agree renew for any period up to, say, five years, and continue San Francisco payment. Extended term probably result improvement both services.

No. 2. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Sydney, to the Seceetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 23rd September, 1898. Be yours fifteenth : Postmaster-General approves continuation present contribution Frisco service, subject Parliament voting money. Question continuing Vancouver service not yet considered. Will receive attention shortly.

No. 3. The Hon. the Peemieb, Wellington, to the Hon. the Pbemiee, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 6th October, 1898. Question renewal San Francisco and Vancouver services comes before Parliament in a few days, and I should be much obliged if you would definitely inform me intentions of your Government. I will probably ask the House to renew both services for five years, and shorten the time by one day at the end of two years. The knowledge that your Government will continue services would help proposals. lam in favour renewal of both services, and a renewal for, say, five years would probably result in better boats being employed. An early reply will oblige.

No. 4. The Hon. the Pbemiee and Tbbasubee, Sydney, to the Hon. the Pbemieb, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 15th October, 1898.5w Youb telegram of 6th instant: My Government have approved of continuance of San Francisco service, subject to parliamentary confirmation. Matter of Vancouver service not yet determined. I—F. 6b.

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DEPARTURE FROM AMERICAN PORTS.—HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION. No. 5. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sib, — San Francisco, 3rd September, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt, by the hands of the Mail Agent of the R.M.S. " Moana," of your telegram of the 6th of August [see No. 28, F.-6a, 1898], having reference to the question as to whether vessels under a foreign flag will be permitted to convey passengers and freight from Honolulu to the United States, and vice versd, now that the former country has been annexed. I would state, as a result of my interviews with the president of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Congressman Loud (representing this State in Congress), and the Collector of Customs for this port, that it would appear to be clearly defined that, until the report of the Commissioners appointed by the President of the United States to formulate laws and regulations for the Government of the State of Hawaii has been received and passed by Congress, the laws of the Hawaiian Kingdom as existing prior to the annexation as applied to shipping will remain in full force and effect, and therefore no interruption to the existing arrangements will be necessary until next December or January, if then. I enclose for your information Circular No. 151 of the Treasury Department at Washington, bearing on the subject. This matter will receive my close attention, and I will endeavour to forward early intimation •of any congressional action that may affect the question. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., H. Stephenson Smith, Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington. Resident Agent.

Enclosure in No. 5. The Acting-Seceetaey, Treasury Department, Washington, to Collectoes of Customs and others in the United States. 1898 : Department Circular No. 151.—Bureau of Navigation. Trade with Hawaii. Treasury Department, Washington, D.C., 4th August, 1898. To Collectors of Customs and others. Your attention is invited to the letter of this date appended hereto, addressed to the Collector of Customs at Boston, relative to vessels trading between the Dnited States and the Hawaiian Islands. O. L. Spaulding, Acting-Secretary.

Sic, — Treasury Department, Washington, D.C., 4th August, 1898. Your letter of the 2nd instant, enclosing a letter from Messrs. Charles Brewer and Co., is received. Messrs. Brewer and Co. inquire whether or not any foreign vessels they may see fit to charter, carrying assorted cargoes for themselves and others from Boston and New York, will be allowed a clearance for any port or ports in Hawaii, and to enter and land their cargoes at such ports. The department is not aware of any reason why, on compliance with the provisions of law, any American or foreign vessel, except a Spanish vessel for the present, may not be permitted to clear from any port in the United States for any port in Hawaii. The clearance should be granted in accord with the laws and regulations governing clearance for foreign ports. Entry of an American or foreign vessel from Hawaii should also be granted in accord with the laws and regulations governing trade with foreign ports. Your attention is invited to the following extract from an opinion of the Hon. the AttorneyGeneral, dated 22nd July, 1898 (attached in full to Department Circular No. 146, 1898), which appears to be conclusive that, although the islands are under American sovereignty, " the present commercial relations" are to remain unchanged until the enactment of further legislation by Congress: — " That declaration, there having been no treaty, is intended to have the effect of a treaty of cession merely. It is the act whereby the islands become, in a broad sense, subject to American sovereignty. How that sovereignty will regulate their status, with regard to itself and its laws, is not thereby intended to be determined. Neither do I think that the express declaration that our land-laws and certain other laws shall not apply to the islands carries the implication that other laws shall apply to them, upon the principle, often misunderstood, that the expression of one thing excludes another. " On the other hand, the resolution is replete with indications that, temporarily, the relations of the two countries are to continue practically unchanged. Even some of Hawaii's relations with other countries are so to continue ; its Government is still to exist and collect its revenues; its laws are to remain in force, however at variance with our laws; and the powers, civil, judicial, and military, exercised by its officers, are still to be exercised. It is, moreover, plainly apparent that Congress regards the establishment of an American Government for and the extension of American laws to the islands as matters to be attended to in the future, upon a consideration of the wide separation of the two countries in locality and character. " If we should hold the previous relations of the two countries altered as suggested, we should vainly look through the resolution for any adequate provision for enforcing such laws as are supposed to apply to the islands. No arrangement is made for collecting our tonnage-tax upon vessels of

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other countries entering Hawaiian ports?, nor is any other tax-law or other law of the United States, unless it be the law prohibiting Chinese immigration, expressly or impliedly, furnished with instrumentalities for its execution. "It seems to me that, in view of this general plan, and of the express declaration that the existing Customs relations, elsewhere spoken of as ' the present commercial relations,' of the Hawaiian Islands with the United States and other countries, are to remain unchanged, it is not going too far to say that Congress has affirmatively indicated its intent that such laws as our tonnage-tax laws are to remain undisturbed by the annexation of the islands until ' Congress shall provide a Government for such islands,' or until a Commission shall advise and Congress enact ' such legislation concerning the Hawaiian Islands as they deem necessary or proper.' " Eeplying to the question whether the vessels in question will be permitted to enter and land cargo at Hawaiian ports, I have to say that, under the resolution of Congress and the opinion of the Attorney-General referred to, American and foreign vessels retain for the present the same rights to enter Hawaiian ports and unload cargo as were granted under the Hawaiian laws before annexation. Eespectfully yours, Collector of Customs, Boston, Mass. 0. L. Spaulding, Acting-Secretary.

No. 6. The Sbcebtaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Ebsidbnt Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Slß,— General Post Office, Wellington, 3rd October, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of your letter of the 3rd ultimo, forwarding copy of a circular letter issued by the Treasury Department, Washington, to Collectors of Customs and others, relative to foreign vessels trading between the Dnited States and the Hawaiian Islands. The Postmaster-General is pleased to learn that there will be no action meanwhile in the direction of disturbing the arrangements for the conveyance of passengers and freight between San Francisco and Honolulu by the British-owned E.M.S. " Moana." H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., I have, &c, Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, Cal. W. Geay, Secretary.

VANCOUVEE MAIL-SEE VICE. DEPAETUEB FEOM AMSEICAN POETS. No. 7. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Phemiee. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— 30th July, 1898. I beg to transmit herewith copy of letter which I have this day received from the Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company with reference to the mails forwarded from New Zealand via Vancouver. . I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure in No. 7. The Liquidatoe of the Canadian-Atjstbalian Boyal. Mail Steamship Company to the Agent-Geneeal. The Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sib,— 138, Leadenhall Street, 29th July, 1898. I beg to inform you that the New Zealand mail which left England per " Aurania," on the 16th instant, will be two days late in arriving at Vancouver; and I have instructed the s.s. " Warrimoo "to wait until Saturday, the 30th instant, for it. In the cables I have received there is no explanation as to cause of delay, but this frequent detention of mails on the overland portion of the route is very unfortunate. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Chaeles J. Cowan, Liquidator.

No. 8. The Deputy Postmasteb-Geneeal, Ottawa, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington. Sib, — Post Office Department, Ottawa, 16th August, 1898. In reference to your letter of the 23rd June last [No. 17, F.-6a, 1898], relative to the delay to the homeward mails per "Aorangi," via Vancouver, I beg to inform you that the mails referred to were received at Vancouver, 8.C., on the morning of the 19th May last, and were despatched by Canadian Pacific Eailway-train at 1 p.m. same day, and arrived on time at New York, 10.35 a.m., on the 24th May. joO&aaThese mails were forwarded from New York per "Aurania" on the same day, the steamer being held down the bay for them. The " Aurania'.' did not arrive at Liverpool until 1.45 a.m. on the 4th June last, one day after a steamer which left New York on Wednesday, the 25th May. Whatever delay occurred, therefore, was due to the steamer-service on the Atlantic. I have, &c, The Postmaster-General, Wellington, E. M. Coultee, New Zealand. Deputy Postmaster-General.

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No. 9. The Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secbetary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sib,— San Francisco, 20th August, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communications of the 15th of July [Nos. 23 and 25, F.-6a, 1898], with enclosure in reference to the delay to the steamer " Aorangi's " mail of April last, by which it is stated that the "Aurania" was delayed in New York two days by danger in the bay from "torpedoes, and asking whether I am in a position to confirm this statement. I would state, in reply, that lam not able to either confirm or deny this statement. I would state, however, that during my late visit to New York, and while referring to this and other delays complained of to the Superintendent of the Post Office (mail department), no reference to any delay of this nature was mentioned; and it is rather difficult for me to understand how a delay of the extent mentioned could have occurred from this cause. The port of San Francisco is also mined, but no delays have occurred on that account. The other matters touched upon in your communications have been anticipated by previous communications. I have the honour to report that the E.M.S. " Aorangi" is reported to have arrived at Victoria at midnight on the 11th instant from Honolulu, with measles on board, and to have been placed in quarantine. As a consequence the mails did not leave Vancouver until Saturday, the 13th instant. There being no steamer leaving New York until to-day (Saturday), there will be a delay of some five days in the through transit. This is most unfortunate, as if the mails had arrived at New York on Tuesday they could by some little pressure (which I proposed making) have caught the fast " Kaiser Wilhelm de Grosse," and made a very fast trip, and thus reduced the average for the year. lam advised, however, that the mails left New York to-day per " Campania," so I trust some of the lost time will be recovered by the time they reach England. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., H. Stbphenson Smith, Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington. Eesident Agent.

No. 10. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Agent-Genebal. Sic, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 13th September, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th July last, forwarding copy of one received from the liquidator of the Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, with reference to the late arrival at Vancouver of the mails for Australasia forwarded by the " Aurania "on the 16th idem. The inquiries by the Post Office show that the delay was really due to the "Aurania" making a long passage and not arriving at New York until 5 p.m. on the 24th July. Her mails, which could not be forwarded from New York until 8.45 the following morning, reached Vancouver at 1 p.m. on the 30th. I trust that it may be possible to arrange for the Vancouver mails being conveyed by faster steamers than the "Aurania," which on the occasion in question took about eight days to make the passage across the Atlantic. I have, &c, W. C. Walkeb, The Hon. W. P. Eeeves, For the Premier. Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 11. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eesident Agent for New Zealand,. San Francisco. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 13th September, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th July last [No. 27,. F.-6a, 1898], reporting the result of your observations during your recent journey with the Australasian mails from Vancouver to New York. I have to thank you for your very complete report, from which I am pleased to learn that there is little fault to be found with the overland transit of the mails. The Vancouver office has been asked to advise the officer in charge of the United States railway mail-service at Minneapolis when the train with the Australasian mails leaves Vancouver; while your suggestion as to placing the mails in charge of the Canadian postal officials has been brought under the notice of the office at Ottawa, with a request that it be given effect to. The question of fixing the most suitable days for the arrival of the steamers at Vancouver, so as to insure a good connection with the fast steamers at New York, will be fully considered when next year's time-table is being framed. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., W. Gbay, Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, Cal. . Secretary.

No. 12. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Postmastee, Vancouver. Sib, — General Post Office, Wellington, 13th September, 1898. I have the honour to inform you that Mr. H. Stephenson Smith, Eesident Agent in San Francisco for this colony, who left Vancouver on the 14th July last for New York with th& Australasian mails, reports that as the connection of the through mails at Minneapolis is extremely

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close it is important that the officer in charge of the United States mail-service at that point, who is anxious to secure prompt transmission of such mails through his district, should know when they leave Vancouver, to enable him to make arrangements for their connection at Minneapolis. I should, therefore, feel obliged if you would arrange to advise that officer of the day and the hour of departure of the Australasian mails from Vancouver on the Canadian Pacific Eailroad. I have, &c, The Postmaster, Vancouver, B.C. W. Gkay, Secretary.

No. 13. The Seceetary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 13th September, 1898. I have the honour to inform you that Mr. H. Stephenson Smith, Eesident Agent for this colony in San Francisco, who left Vancouver on the 14th July last for New York with the Australasian mails, reports as follows: "I find also that it is the present practice to forward the through mails from Vancouver in the ordinary express-car, where the mails are mixed with the other express matter ; and as those mails are not in the charge of the Canadian postal officials, but in that of the railroad, it does not appear who would be responsible if on arrival at Moose Jaw a bag or bags should be missing. I would suggest that all these through mails should be sent through in 'closed' cars, and under the charge of the, Canadian mail officers, when, if arrangements could be effected in regard to the prior despatch of the ' Soo' line train from Moose Jaw, this car could be at once switched on to the connecting line, and its departure thus be expedited." As you will no doubt remember, your office advised this department [No. 55, F.-6, Sess. 11., 1897] that the mails would be in charge of a railway mail officer in transit through Canada. I shall, therefore, feel obliged, assuming Mr. Smith is correctly informed of the present practice, if you will cause such arrangements to be made as you may consider advisable to give effect to his suggestion. I have, &c, W. Gray, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa, Canada. Secretary.

No. 14. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. Sir, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 13th September, 1898. Adverting to my letter of the 22nd June last [No. 38, F.-6a, 1898] on the subject of the Vancouver mail-service, I have the honour to inform you that the Eesident Agent for this colony in San Francisco has now reported on the arrangements for the transport of the mails from Australasia, which he accompanied, across Canada and the United States of America. I enclose an extract [not printed] from the report for your information. You will observe that Mr. Smith is of opinion that the serious delays hitherto in the through transit of the mails by the Vancouver route are attributable more to the slow-steamer connection on the Atlantic than to detention on the overland journey. I would, therefore, ask you to be so good as to look into the question of the possibility of arranging for faster steamers leaving New York with the homeward mails, and to inform me what action, if any, can be taken in this direction. Now that the American-Spanish war is over, swifter vessels should be available; and I shall be glad, in order to insure connection with such steamers, if you can also offer any suggestion for a change in the sailing-day for consideration when the time comes for preparing a new time-table under any renewed service. I have, &c, W. C. Walker, The Hon. W. P. Eeeves, For the Premier. Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 15. The Seceetary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-Geneeal, Ottawa. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 21st September, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of your letter of the 16th ultimo, concerning the delay to the homeward mails from the Australasian Colonies, per the " Aorangi," vid Vancouver, in May last. It was reported that the " Aurania," by which the mails in question were despatched from New York, was delayed two days there on account of the submarine mines in the bay; and this department is now endeavouring to learn definitely whether such was the case. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Ottawa. W. Gray, Secretary.

No. 16. The Seceetary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Superintendent of Foreign Mails, Washington. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 21st September, 1898. I have the honour to inform you that it has been reported that the homeward Australasian mails, which arrived at Vancouver by the "Aorangi" in May last, one day before schedule time, were delayed at New York through the detention of the "Aurania " there for two days owing to 2—F. 6b.

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danger in the bay from torpedoes. As lam unable to definitely ascertain the truth or otherwise of the statement, I shall feel much obliged if you will inform, me whether the " Aurania " was detained as reported, and, if so, whether it was from the cause indicated. I have, &c, The Superintendent, W. Geay, Office of Foreign Mails, Post Office Department, "Washington, D.C. Secretary.

No. 17. The Sbceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Mail Agent, E.M.S. "Aorangi." General Post Office, Wellington, 28th September, 1898. The Mail Agent, E.M.S. " Aorangi." I enclose an extract from a letter [see No. 27, F.-6a, 1898, para. 6] from Mr. H. Stephenson Smith, Eesident Agent at San Francisco, who recently travelled over the mail route between Vancouver and New York to ascertain where the delays to the homeward Australasian mails were occurring. Will you be good enough to submit the extract to the railway authorities at Vancouver and learn their views on the proposal to accelerate the departure of the Soo train from Moose Jaw ? W, Gbay, Secretary.

No. 18. The Secretaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Postmaster, Vancouver. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 3rd October, 1898. I have the honour to inform you that the manager of the railway company at Vancouver approached the Mail Agent by the last voyage of the " Aorangi," for the purpose of endeavouring to arrange that the first portion of the mail from the United Kingdom for Australasia might be detained at New York, or en route, and brought on with the main portion of the mails. As it is of very great advantage to the Mail Agent in the performance of his duties to receive a portion of the mails in advance, I should feel obliged if you would communicate with the railway company and request that the existing arrangement be not disturbed. I have, &c, W. Gray, The Postmaster, Vancouver, B.C. Secretary. Approximate. Cost of i'a^er.—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,475 copies), £3 15s.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9B. Price (id.}