F.—4,

Enclosure 4 in No 46. Mr. Creighton to Messrs. Spreckels and Brothers, San Francisco. Dear Sirs, — San Francisco, Ist December, 1890. I am in receipt of your letter of the 26th November informing me that the Union Steamship Compairy of New Zealand contemplated despatching the December mail from the colonies per "Monowai" instead of by the " Zealandia," which had been despatched with the October mail on 15th November, and which you claim should carry the December mail as scheduled. I also note your protest to me as representative of New Zealand at this place against despatching the mail in question by the "Monowai." In reply, 1 beg to state that I cabled your protest to the Postmaster-General of New Zealand on 28th November, and will forward your letter, together with a copy of my reply, to Mr. Gray by the outgoing mail. I am, &c, Robt. J. Ceeighton, Agent, New Zealand Government. Messrs. John D. Spreckels and Brothers, San Francisco.

No. 47. Mr. Okeighton to the Seoeetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Deae Sic, — San Francisco, 12th December, 1890. Since closing my letter of the 10th I have been furnished with copy of despatch from Superintendent Troy, of the Railroad Mail-service at Chicago, to Superintendent Wilder, of San Francisco, to the effect that the final instalment of the British-Australian mail missed connection with the west-bound train at Chicago on the morning of the 10th, and would be forwarded on the Burlington fast mail-train on the 11th (yesterday). This will postpone the sailing of the " Alameda " until Sunday, on which day the delayed mail is due here. I attach latest despatch re Postal Subsidy Bills, also newspaper note of postal regulation* in consequence of your representations to the Superintendent of Foreign Mails. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, Posts and Telegraphs, Wellington. Robt. J. Creighton. * Not published.

No. 48. Mr. Geay to Mr. Spbeckels, San Francisco. Sm, — General Post Office, Wellington, 24th January, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th November last with reference to the continuation of the San Francisco mail-service, which was laid before the Post-master-General. In connection with your remarks as to the non-payment for the conveyance of book and newspaper portions of the mails, I am to inform you that as the London Post Office does not share its book- and newspaper-postages with the colony, as in the case of the Direct service, but retains such postage collections to cover the transit of the outward mails to San Francisco, and the cost of the Atlantic charges on the Homeward mails, the Postmaster-General was of opinion that this should be the basis of payment to the contractors. I am also to explain that the postage receipts on a pound of letters at 2Jd. per half ounce letter is equal to 10s. 5d., while the payment made to the contractors is Is. 7d. per pound in excess of this. The retention by the Post Office of the full colonial book- and newspaper-postage is to assist to defray the half cost of the transit of the Homeward mails from San Francisco to New York. I have, &c, J. D. Spreckels, Esq., 327, Market Street, San Francisco. W. Gbay, Secretary.

No. 49. Mr. Eose to Mr. Ceeighton, San Francisco. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd February, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th December last, (1) enclosing correspondence with the Superintendent of Foreign Mails in reference to the railroad charges; (2) forwarding extract from the President's message referring to the Australian mailservice and the Shipping Bills; (3) enclosing copy of correspondence with Messrs. J. D. Spreckels and Brothers in reference to the employment of the " Monowai" instead of the " Zealandia " for the carriage of the December mails from New Zealand ; and (4) discussing the question of a change of sailing-date from San Francisco owing to the employment of the " Umbria " for the Atlantic passage during 1891; also of your further letter of the 12th idem, reporting the detention of the " Alameda " through the overland mail missing the train at Chicago on the 10th. I note the latest despatch on the subject of the Postal Subsidy Bills, and the newspaper notice of the regulation for the posting of letters on board the outward-bound steamers at San Francisco. I have, &c, R. J. Creighton, Esq., Resident Agent for New Thomas Rose, for the Secretary. Zealand, San Francisco,

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