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Sir — 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 22nd February, 1894. Referring to your letter of the 16th February, 1893, and to previous correspondence, relating to the arrangement under which your company provided passages to New Zealand to persons approved by the Agent-General, I am directed, now that the twelve months during which the arrangement was to remain in force is about to terminate, to inquire whether your company are prepared to agree to a similar arrangement to run for another twelve months, in order that the Agent-General may at once communicate with his Government in respect thereto. I am, &c, The Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company, Walter Kennaway. 138, Leadenhall Street, E.C.

New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), 138, Leadenhall Street, E.C, Sib,— 23rd February, 1894. I beg to acknowledge your letter of 22nd February, inquiring if this company is prepared to agree to an arrangement for another twelve months similar to that already existing, under which passages are provided at reduced fares to persons approved by the Agent-General, and will place your letter before my Board at its next sitting. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. O. R. Strickland, Manager.

Sib,— New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), 27th February, 1894. Referring to my letter of 23rd February, I have now to inform you that this company is prepared to agree to provide passages to New Zealand to persons approved by yourself, on the same terms and conditions as arranged in their letter of the 16th February, 1893, and, subject to your concurrence, is agreeable to extend the arrangement for a longer period than twelve months, as, in the opinion of my Board, the extensive advertising and circulation of printed matter has not yet had its full effect, and that in the next few months it is anticipated there will be a considerable increase in the number of passengers for the colony. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. O. R. Steickland.

Sib,— 13. Victoria Street, S.W., 12th March, 1894. Referring to your letter of the 27th ultimo, I am directed by the Agent-General to inform you that he has this day received a cablegram from his Government authorising him to renew for twelve months the arrangement under which your company provides passages to New Zealand at reduced rates for persons approved by him. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the arrangement, the Agent-General will at once take the necessary steps for continuing the advertisements in which the attention of the public is directed thereto. I am, &c, Walter Kennaway. The Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited).

Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— 18th April, 1894. Referring to my letter, No. 352, of the 21st March last, I beg to inform you that I have received from the New Zealand Shipping Company, and paid into the Public Account, the sum of £332 12s. Bd., being the company's contribution (computed at the rate of 5 per cent, on the amount of the passage-money received on account of the persons approved by me for passages at reduced rates) towards the cost of advertising. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. B. Peeceval.

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