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As at present arranged, all letters posted in London prior to the despatch of the present fourweekly mail via San Francisco are forwarded by that route, and it is therefore assumed that a similar arrangement would be carried into effect in case a fortnightly mail is established, so that all letters, &c, for New Zealand, unless specially superscribed to go by another route, would be forwarded vid San Francisco. The Agent-General has been desired by his Government, in view of the near approach of the session of the New Zealand Parliament, to request the favour of an early reply as regards the amount of support which the Imperial Government would be prepared to give in aid of a fortnightly service. I am, &c. The Secretary, General Post Office, E.C. Walter Kennaway.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. The Secebtaey, General Post Office, London, to the Agent-General. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 17th May, 1899. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, stating that a proposal for the establishment of a fortnightly mail-service between New Zealand and the United Kingdom vid San Francisco is likely to be brought under the consideration of the colonial Parliament during its approaching session, and inquiring what support would be given by the Imperial Government to such a fortnightly service. In reply, I am to inform you that the Postmaster-General does not think Her Majesty's Government, having provided a regular weekly service to Australasia vid Suez has any reason to 'be anxious for a duplication of the mail-service between the colony and the Mother-country vid San Francisco. He cannot, therefore, hold out any hope of direct support for such duplication from Imperial funds; but if, in the interests of the colony, a fortnightly instead of a monthly service were established by that route, it might be considered to what extent the proposed additional service could be used advantageously for mails at present sent vid Suez. In considering any diversion of the mails, the Postmaster-General would necessarily desire to examine the advantages which the western route might offer, as compared with the eastern route; and, in order that he may be in a position to arrive at a conclusion on this point, I am to request that you will be good enough to supply him with detailed information showing, week by week, the expected working of the service between this country and New Zealand by the San Francisco route, as compared with that of Suez. Any returns which you can supply relative to the past would also be useful. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. • H. Buxton Forman.

Enclosure 3 in No. 1. The Secretary to the Agent-General to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 18th May, 1899. I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, and to state, in reference to the request of the Postmaster-General to be supplied with detailed information as regards the expected working of the service between this country and New Zealand by the San Francisco route, as compared with that of Suez, that as soon as steps are taken by his Government with the view of establishing a fortnightly service by that route he will take care to furnish the Postmaster-General with full information as regards both the past and future working of the service. I am, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, E.C. Walter Kennaway.

No. 2. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Wellington, to the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Wellington, 28th August, 1899. Sir, — San Francisco Mail Contract. I have the honour to apply for permission to substitute for two trips the s.s. " Mokoia " for the s.s. " Moana " in the San Francisco mail-service running. The s.s. " Mokoia "is our latest-built steamer. She possesses all the most modern improvements, and in point of accommodation is equal to the " Moana," while as regards speed our experience of her running in the intercolonial trade indicates that she can fulfil the terms of the mail contract. I have, &c, T. W. Whitson, for Managing Director. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.