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No. 93. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,-- - 6th December, 1890. I received in due course your telegram of the Ist instant, stating that the arrangements for the renewal of the Direct ocean mail-service had just been completed with the New Zealand Shipping Company, and I at once informed the Imperial Post Office to that effect. The Post Office have inquired whether the despatch of the mail to be made on the 12th instant by Direct steamer, and also the next despatch via San Francisco, will be made under the old or new contracts. By the agreement of the 12th November, 1889, between yourself and the New Zealand Shipping Company, it was provided that the service was to commence with the despatch of the " Eimutaka " from Plymouth on the 14th December, 1889, since which date thirteen outward voyages have been made. I have therefore told the Post Office that the mail by the s.s. "Tongariro" on the 12th instant will be made under the renewed contract, and that the next mail via San Francisco will be also under the renewed agreement. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 94. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, to the Agent-General, London. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd February, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th October last, and of the enclosures thereto, on the subject of the renewal of the San Francisco and the Direct mailservices. I have, &c, P. A. Buckley, For the Postmaster-General. Sir F. D. Bell, K.C.M.G., C.8., Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 95. The Hon. the Postmaster-General to the Agent-General, London. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 24th February, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st October last, and of the copy of correspondence which you enclosed therewith, detailing the concluding negotiations between yourself and the Imperial Post Office in relation to the renewal of the San Francisco and Direct mail-services —particularly the latter. The Government regrets the difficulty you were in for want of fuller information, but it was itself in great doubt as to the course Parliament would take on the subject of the renewal. It would have been impossible to submit any proposal to the House of Kepresentatives until it was known what assistance was to be rendered by the Imperial Treasury. As soon as it was possessed of this information the Government acquainted you with its views and intentions. However, it is a matter for congratulation that you were able to secure an acceptable arrangement with the Imperial authorities in the absence of definite information. With respect to the figures given in the Supplementary Order Paper of the 9th September, and their difference from those of the London Office, I have to inform you that the calculations of this office were based on the paid correspondence from London only. This rule has been followed for years past, so as to keep the annual report and various returns in harmony. That is to say, the foreign and unpaid correspondence are left out of the statements as unessential. The greatest difference between the two statements now considered is one of £236, owing to the omission of the foreign and unpaid correspondence merely, in a year. I have, &c, P. A. Buckley, •For the Postmaster-General. Sir F. D. Bell, K.C.M.G., C.8., Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 96. The Hon. the Postmaster-General to the Agent-General, London. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 26th February, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the sth November last, enclosing copy of one of the previous day from the Imperial Post Office on the subject of the new arrangements for continuing the ocean mail-services. As you say, it completed the record on your side of those arrangements. I have, &c, P. A. Buckley, For the Postmaster-General. Sir F. D. Bell, K.C.M.G., C.8.,-Agent-General for New Zealand, London.