F.—6b

Sess. 11.—1897. NEW ZEALAND.

OCEAN MAIL-SERVICES (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO). [In continuation of Paper F.-6a, presented on the 24th November, 1897.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

CANADIAN PACIFIC MAIL-SEEVICE. No. 1. Mr. Grayson to the Et. Hon. the Premier. Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Line, Sib,— Wellington, 16th November, 1897. Attached herewith I have the honour to hand you statement of shipments by the Canadian-Australian line from Sydney. I may say that I am preparing some arguments in support of the colony recognising the service, copy of which J shall have the honour to forward to you as soon as they are in from the printers. I have, &c, The Et. Hon. Eichard J. Seddon, P.C., Premier, Wellington. Eobt. Grayson.

Enclosure in No. 1. Summarised Statement of Exports from Sydney by the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Line.

No. 2. Messrs. Huddaet and Co. to the Et. Hon. the Premier. Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Line, Wellington, 19th November, 1897. Sir, — " . Vancouver Mail-service. In connection with the question of ocean mail-services, which is now under the consideration of Parliament, it may be of some interest to make public some reasons why the Vancouver mail-service should receive recognition at the hands of the Colony of New Zealand. The Vancouver mail-line was primarily established with the object of opening up trade relationships with the Australian Colonies and the Dominion of Canada, and of creating a line of travel which should be entirely through British territory, and it was recognised that such a service must necessarily have the sympathy and the practical support of the British-speaking races. The Vancouver service at present is subsidised to the extent of £25,000 per annum by the Government of Canada, £10,000 per annum by the Government of New South Wales, and £1,500 per annum by the Crown Colony of Fiji.

Wool. Skins. Meat. Hides. Butter. Mutton. L Ge ™ml Merchandise. I Fruit. Tin. Sugar. .893 ... 894 ... .895 .896 .897 (part season) Bales. 172 3,898 5,856 6,900 1,050 Bales. 10 150 856 453 790 Cases. Bags. Cases. 646 ... 10 573 464 400 389 810 630 2,200 1,872 850 2,150 3,480 174 Carcases. Packages. 90 383 1,445' 9,453 726; 13,603 251 15,300 4,500 11,153 Cases. 5,720 8,580 3,050 4,500 4,900 Ingots. 2,012 8,986 12,320 13,520 Bags. 16( 30' 3,431 6;,00(