F.—6

4

Sailing eveey Twenty-one Days. Outward. Leaves Sydney, Wednesday, 10 am. Leaves Auckland, Saturday evening. Arrives Auckland, Saturday, 2 p.m. • Arrives San Francisco, Monday, 6 a.m. Or, say, 3 days and 4 hours from Sydney to Auckland, and 16-J- days from Auckland to San Francisco. Inward. Leaves San Francisco, Wednesday, 10.15 p.m. At Auckland, nine hours, leaving 5 p.m. Arrives Auckland, Saturday, 8 a.m. Arrives Sydney, Wednesday, 5 a.m. Or, say, 15 days and 19 hours from San Francisco to Auckland, and 3 days and 12 hours from Auckland to Sydney. Interval at Auckland between up and down steamships, 14 days and 10 hours; interval at Sydney for replies, 7 days and 5 hours; interval at San Francisco for replies, 16 days and 16 hours.

No. 6. Mr. J. H. Withefoed to the Hon. the Premier. (Telegram.) Auckland, Ist September, 1899. Posting definite proposition in re Pacific mail-service with new time-table of great importance to the colony [No. s].

No. 7. Mr. J. H. Withefoed to the Hon. the Peemiee. (Telegram.) Auckland, 4th September, 1899. Kindly wire when you receive my proposal posted Friday in re mail-service every twenty-one days via San Francisco, delivering mails from London in 26 days 7 hours, and 27£ days from Auckland to London. Eeply.

No. 8. The Hon. the Peemieb to Mr. J. H. Withefoed, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, Bth September, 1899. Thanks for your letter of the 31st ultimo, containing proposition in re Pacific mail-service, which will receive the fullest consideration. Some time ago we had a communication [not printed] from Messrs. Spreckels on the same subject. There is not much hope of getting further assistance from Australia, and it is very probable we shall go on as at present pending completion of new steamers.

No. 9. Mr. John D. Spbeckels, San Francisco, to the Hon. the Peemiee, Wellington. Sib, — San Francisco, 30th September, 1899. Some time ago, in response to inquiries from Mr. J. H. Witheford as to the ideas of my company as regards the mail-service, when our new steamships were ready for service I sent him a pro forma schedule for a twenty-one-days service vid Auckland, copy of which I attach hereto; and, as the question appears to be ready for consideration, I take the liberty of placing my views before you and giving my reasons why I have settled upon a twenty-one-days service as being the only practical one that we can adopt:— (1.) It enables us to get the maximum value out of each steamship—i.e., by obtaining seventeen trips instead of thirteen. (2.) It cares for present trade, and provides for an increase in freight alone of over 50 per cent. (3.) It provides for speed in the transmission of mails and passengers that could not be possible under any other schedule, unless the respective Governments paid extravagant sums for its maintenance. (4.) A more frequent service with the same class of vessels is impossible under the present condition of trade. (5.) It admits, if we so desire, of our operating under the Hanna-Payne Bill, should the latter become a law, although we would only receive payment for sixteen trips. As to its advantage to the colonies over present schedule there can be no question. It gives greatly reduced time in passage of mails, more frequent service, and ample facilities for freight and passengers in steamships that will be unexcelled in the Pacific Ocean for speed, equipment, and comfort. It has been intimated to me that you desire to make a stipulation to the effect that one-third of the vessels employed shall be of British register. While I fully understand and appreciate the sentiment which governs you in this matter, and our relations with the Union Steam Snip Company have been most agreeable, I fear that we cannot be considered as an applicant for or a participant in the contract if that stipulation should be insisted upon, for the following reasons :—