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No. 23. The Managing Director, Onion Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir,— Dunedin, 21st May, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your favour of 14th instant, and regret that the Acting Postmaster-General is unable to see his way to waive the penalty in connection with the late arrival at Auckland of the " Zealandia" from San Francisco. , I will communicate this to Messrs. Spreckels, who I am sure will be very much disappointed that their application that the lateness of the " Zealandia's" arrival should be made a set-off against the detention at San Francisco without compensation of their other steamers on several occasions could not be entertained. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., T. W. Whitson, Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. For Managing Director.

No. 24. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. (Memorandum.) Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 30th April, 1897. San Francisco Mails. I beg to transmit herewith copy of correspondence with the London General Post Office on the subject of the delay which took place in the delivery of the mails despatched from New Zealand vid San Francisco to London on the 15th February last. According to the time-table these mails were due to arrive in London on the 24th March, but they were not delivered until the 29th of that month. Walter Kennaway, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. For the Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 24. The Secretary, Agent-General's Department, to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 12th April, 1897. I am directed by the Agent-General to call your attention to the fact that the New Zealand mails, forwarded by the San Francisco route, and which were due to arrive in London on Wednesday the 24th March last, were not delivered until Monday the 29th of that month, and, in reference thereto, to inquire what was the cause of the delay. I am, &c, Walter Kennaway, Secretary to the Department. The Secretary to the General Post Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand.

Enclosure 2 in No. 24. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Agent-General. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 22nd April, 1897. In reply to your letter of the 12th instant, I beg leave to inform you that the mail from New Zealand vid San Francisco, which should properly have been conveyed by the American packet "Paris," and have arrived here on Wednesday the 24th March, must apparently have reached New York too late for transmission by that steamer, as it was only received on Sunday the 28th, with the mails conveyed by the Cunard packet. There is no information here as to the actual circumstances under which the delay took place. I am, &c, W. Roche, The Agent-General for New Zealand. For the Secretary.

Enclosure 3 in No. 24. The Secretary, Agent-General's Department, to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sib,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 23rd April, 1897. I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant, relative to the delay in the delivery of the mail vid San Francisco, which was due in London on the 24th March last, and, in reference thereto, to state that he would be glad if further inquiry could be made for the purpose of ascertaining the actual circumstances under which the mail was delayed in its transit from San Francisco to New York. It appears to the Agent-General that this information might have an important bearing as a guide for the future, and in view of the arrangements which will have to be made this year for the renewal of the service. He therefore begs leave to request the favour of your making such inquiry as will result in obtaining the required information. I am, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, E.G. Walter Kennaway.

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