3

F.—6b.

other countries entering Hawaiian ports?, nor is any other tax-law or other law of the United States, unless it be the law prohibiting Chinese immigration, expressly or impliedly, furnished with instrumentalities for its execution. "It seems to me that, in view of this general plan, and of the express declaration that the existing Customs relations, elsewhere spoken of as ' the present commercial relations,' of the Hawaiian Islands with the United States and other countries, are to remain unchanged, it is not going too far to say that Congress has affirmatively indicated its intent that such laws as our tonnage-tax laws are to remain undisturbed by the annexation of the islands until ' Congress shall provide a Government for such islands,' or until a Commission shall advise and Congress enact ' such legislation concerning the Hawaiian Islands as they deem necessary or proper.' " Eeplying to the question whether the vessels in question will be permitted to enter and land cargo at Hawaiian ports, I have to say that, under the resolution of Congress and the opinion of the Attorney-General referred to, American and foreign vessels retain for the present the same rights to enter Hawaiian ports and unload cargo as were granted under the Hawaiian laws before annexation. Eespectfully yours, Collector of Customs, Boston, Mass. 0. L. Spaulding, Acting-Secretary.

No. 6. The Sbcebtaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Ebsidbnt Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Slß,— General Post Office, Wellington, 3rd October, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of your letter of the 3rd ultimo, forwarding copy of a circular letter issued by the Treasury Department, Washington, to Collectors of Customs and others, relative to foreign vessels trading between the Dnited States and the Hawaiian Islands. The Postmaster-General is pleased to learn that there will be no action meanwhile in the direction of disturbing the arrangements for the conveyance of passengers and freight between San Francisco and Honolulu by the British-owned E.M.S. " Moana." H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., I have, &c, Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, Cal. W. Geay, Secretary.

VANCOUVEE MAIL-SEE VICE. DEPAETUEB FEOM AMSEICAN POETS. No. 7. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Phemiee. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— 30th July, 1898. I beg to transmit herewith copy of letter which I have this day received from the Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company with reference to the mails forwarded from New Zealand via Vancouver. . I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure in No. 7. The Liquidatoe of the Canadian-Atjstbalian Boyal. Mail Steamship Company to the Agent-Geneeal. The Canadian-Australian Eoyal Mail Steamship Company, Sib,— 138, Leadenhall Street, 29th July, 1898. I beg to inform you that the New Zealand mail which left England per " Aurania," on the 16th instant, will be two days late in arriving at Vancouver; and I have instructed the s.s. " Warrimoo "to wait until Saturday, the 30th instant, for it. In the cables I have received there is no explanation as to cause of delay, but this frequent detention of mails on the overland portion of the route is very unfortunate. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Chaeles J. Cowan, Liquidator.

No. 8. The Deputy Postmasteb-Geneeal, Ottawa, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington. Sib, — Post Office Department, Ottawa, 16th August, 1898. In reference to your letter of the 23rd June last [No. 17, F.-6a, 1898], relative to the delay to the homeward mails per "Aorangi," via Vancouver, I beg to inform you that the mails referred to were received at Vancouver, 8.C., on the morning of the 19th May last, and were despatched by Canadian Pacific Eailway-train at 1 p.m. same day, and arrived on time at New York, 10.35 a.m., on the 24th May. joO&aaThese mails were forwarded from New York per "Aurania" on the same day, the steamer being held down the bay for them. The " Aurania'.' did not arrive at Liverpool until 1.45 a.m. on the 4th June last, one day after a steamer which left New York on Wednesday, the 25th May. Whatever delay occurred, therefore, was due to the steamer-service on the Atlantic. I have, &c, The Postmaster-General, Wellington, E. M. Coultee, New Zealand. Deputy Postmaster-General.