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No. 3. The Secretary, General Post Office, to the Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Wellington. General Post Office, Wellington, 29th August, 1899. Sir, — San Francisco Mail-service. I have the honour, by direction, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th instant, applying for permission to substitute for two trips the s.s. " Mokoia" for the s.s. " Moana." In reply I am to say that, while the Postmaster-General is aware that the "Mokoia" is suitable in respect of passenger and other accommodation, he would like to be assured that she is capable of steaming the distance between San Francisco and Auckland in the contract time of nineteen days, including the usual stoppages at Honolulu and Samoa. If you can satisfy the Minister that the " Mokoia " can maintain an average speed of about 13-J- knots an hour while at sea, he will offer no objection to her being employed in the service for the two voyages, as desired. I have, &c, The Managing Director, W. Gray, Secretary. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Wellington.

No. 4. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir,-— Wellington, 29th August, 1899. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 29th, and beg that you will convey my thanks to the Hon. the Postmaster-General for his kind permission to substitute the s.s. " Mokoia " for the s.s. "Moana" for two voyages in the San Francisco mailservice. The s.s. " Mokoia " has shown herself capable of the required speed in her intercolonial running. She has not hitherto had an opportunity of showing what she can do in tropical running, but I have every confidence in her powers; and in any case she can take what advantage is to be gained by curtailing her stay in port en route. Yours, &c, T. W. Whitson, for Managing Director. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 5. Mr. J. H. Witheford, Auckland, to the Hon. the Premier. Dear Mr. Seddon, — Auckland, 31st August, 1899. I have received by the San Francisco mail a satisfactory reply to suggestions made by me to the Oceanic Company. I deem it necessary before the colonies agree to support a service to know definitely what it is capable of, and I am further of opinion that to put the Pacific line on an improved basis and insure its efficiency and permanency we must have the time fixed—five or seven years —so that no tempting offer from other parts can lose us the regular steamers, and that in the event of war, and the closing of the Suez Canal, we have the most speedy and best-equipped vessels it is possible to procure connecting with the American Continent. This being 5,000 miles nearer than any European port, in war time it would lessen the ocean risks, and the English fleet would protect the Atlantic liners—though possibly unable to spare the necessary vessels on the extreme length of the eastern route. If you approved of arranging a service on the following lines it would be practicable of accomplishment : New steamers of not less than 6,000 tons doing the trip at an average speed of not less than sixteen knots—delivering the London mails in New Zealand in 26 days 7 hours, and in 27 J days the mails from New Zealand to London. I have for some years been trying to induce the American companies (both steamship and railway) to unite in expediting the transport of mails. I have now much pleasure in laying before you the following schedule for a twenty-one-days service which the Oceanic Company have indicated their satisfaction with, provided we give them reasonable remuneration. The Oceanic Company have always pointed out that a really first-class service would require substantial recognition ffom the colonial Governments, in view of the greatly increased cost of operating such a service. Probably your Government will take the initiative in making arrangements with the other colonies whereby a lump sum could be offered, in the neighbourhood of £30,000 annually, for a period of from five to seven years. lam not personally or pecuniarily interested in any shipping company. I have given prominence to the Oceanic Company simply because under present conditions a service under the American flag may prove very advantageous. Their punctual delivery of mails hitherto is also in their favour. The Oceanic Company have intimated their desire to promote the trade of the colonies with the islands of the Pacific as far as lies in their power, and state that the new steamers will have plenty of capacity for freight on their return trips. I am, &c, The Eight Hon. E. J. Seddon, J. H. Witheford. Premier of New Zealand, Wellington.