5

F.—6a

delayed. 'Aorangi' arrived Vancouver day early, but mails delivered London three days late. Urge Railway New York Post Office give prompt despatch." It was much to my regret that my business engagements and the illness of my wife prevented my departure in time to carry out these instructions at the present juncture; I therefore cabled, " Unable leave June," and now confirm the same. If on receipt of this communication and others on the same subject it is still desired that this trip should be made, every effort will be made to comply with your instructions by the date of the arrival of the steamer at Vancouver in July. Much, regretting the condition of matters at the present moment, I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., H. Stephenson Smith, Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington. Resident Agent.

No. 15. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San- Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — San Francisco, 13th June, 1898. In regard to the delays lately reported in connection with the transmission of the Australasian mails vid the Canadian-Pacific route and connections, I would state that, as far as I have been at present able to ascertain, the delay to the mails due in England on the 4th May was principally attributable to the eight-day trip of the s.s. " Umbria " across the Atlantic, coupled with a six- or seven-day trip across the continent. The cause of the latter delay lam now investigating, and will communicate, the result thereof as early as possible. In regard to the delay to the mails ex " Aorangi," to which your cable had special reference, my advices are to the effect that these mails left New York on the evening of the 24th May, only five days from arrival at Vancouver, but that they were sent forward on the evening of the 24th per the " Aurania," which appears to have consumed about eleven days in accomplishing the voyage. It is quite unfortunate that the present schedule should be so arranged that either the " Umbria " or the " Aurania " is timed to perform the Atlantic portion of the voyage, although it is hardly to be anticipated that such protracted voyages as instanced should be experienced in the months of May and June. Upon receipt of information in regard to delay on railways in the case of the " Warrimoo's " mail I will duly advise you. I have, &c, W. Gray, Esq., H. Stephenson Smith, Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington. Resident Agent.

No. 16. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 20th June, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo [see No. 188, F.-6,1898], with reference to the delays on the overland route to the mails vid Vancouver, and matters connected with the San Francisco service. It is to be regretted that you were unable to go over the whole of the mail route from Chicago in view of the repeated delays to the mails from Vancouver to New York—delays which do not appear to occur in the opposite direction. As you were advised, our Mail Agent in February last travelled as far as Chicago, and satisfied himself, after conferring with the railway and post-office authorities, that there would be no delay up to that point; while the managers for the railway between Chicago and New York undertook that our mails would receive prompt attention onward, and the New York Post-office stated that there would be no unnecessary delay there. I hope that your inquiries will show where the detentions arise, and that your proposed representations to "Washington will result in the removal of all cause for further delay or complaint. I was disappointed on learning that you could not accompany the mails by the "Miowera" to New York [see No. 14], but I hope that you will be able to go on the arrival of the following steamer. 1 have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., W. Gray, Secretary. Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, California.

No. 17. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Ottawa. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd June, 1898. I have the honour to forward herewith copy of my cablegram to you of the 9th instant, with reference to the delay to the homeward mails per the " Aorangi" vid Vancouver, to which I have not as yet received a reply. I may explain that the telegram was the result of representations which had been made by the Agent-General for this colony in London [see No. 189, F.-6, 1898] that much dissatisfaction is caused in business circles there at the unpunctual deliveries, which are not infrequent. Delays of the kind are practically unknown in the case of the mails by way of San Francisco. I have, &c, W. Gray, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Ottawa. For the Postmaster-General.