33

F.—4

No. 69. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. (Telegram.) London, 13th October, 1890. Direct Service. —Position unchanged. Imperial Post Office still waiting decision Imperial Treasury respecting basis contribution.

No. 70. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Agent-General, London. (Telegram.) Wellington, 23rd October, 1890. Dieect Seevice.—Urge Imperial Government settle basis payment forthwith. Reply.

No. 71. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premise, Wellington. (Telegram.) London, 23rd October, 1890. Message received. Information is wanted on following points : Which basis urge now, weight or subsidy ? What figures satisfactory either case ?

No. 72. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Premiee, Wellington. (Telegram.) * London, 23rd October, 1890. Direct Service.—Since cabling have seen Imperial Treasury again. They will agree contribution proposed by telegram 29th August—namely, twelve shillings pound letters, and half-postage books newspapers, provided you waive surcharge Federal packets and apply universal rate all routes. Instruct whether may accept.

No. 73. The Hon. the Pbemiem to the Agent-General, London. (Telegram.) Wellington, 24th October, 1890. Messages received. Decision Parliament prevents reduction letter-postage Federal packets. Prepared recommend universal rate next session. If Imperial Treasury satisfied, accept. When will the twopenny halfpenny come into force ?

"^"■^ " "■' "■iii< No. 74. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier, Wellington. (Telegram.) London, 24th October, 1890. Direct Service.—Message received. Imperial Treasury accepts your promise ; but as Imperial Post Office endeavouring to arrange start universal rate first January they insist upon their letters by Federal packets not being surcharged on arrival. Can you arrange this, because if it can be arranged question is settled ?

No. 75. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-Geneeal, London. (Telegram.) Wellington, 29th October, 1890. Message received. Never intended surcharge Federal packet inward letters. Decision House applies outward letters specially addressed both ways.

No. 76. Mr. Gibbs to the Secretaey, General Post-office, Wellington. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch, Sib,— 27th October, 1890. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo, with copies of the resolutions agreed to by the House of Eepresentatives under which the Government is authorised to renew the Direct mail-service contract for one year, for which we beg to thank you. In reply, I am instructed to inform you that the directors will accept the offer of the Hon. the Postmaster-General to renew the mail-contract with this company for one year provided the Shaw Savill and Albion Company agree to carry the Homeward mails as under the existing contract, and subject to the following modifications : —■ (1.) No penalty to be enforced for non-delivery of mails within contract time. In support of this, I beg to point out that the total mail-money which we may expect to receive under this contract amounts only to about £330 per voyage, and for such a payment it is scarcely fair to subject the contractors to penalties, especially as the Government have discontinued the payment of bonuses. The Hon. the Postmaster-General may rely on this company's steamers making as fast passages as 5—F. ,1,