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No. 62. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — Resident Agency for New Zealand, San Francisco, 11th June, 1900. Eeverting to my communication of the 16th April last, in reference to delay to the mails to connect with the B.M.S.S. " Mariposa," I have now the honour to enclose the papers received from the various Superintendents of the Railway Mail-service referring to the matter, which also touches upon the question of the more legible marking of the bags containing letters, so that the various transfer-agents can at once detect the difference, and properly identify the description of mail when delays occur. From what I have seen, however, of the through mail-bags lam of the opinion that distinct stencilling is made on the bags en route, so that I do not think there should be any necessity to do anything further in this direction. I have also to report that the homeward mails received here in May, per " Mariposa," did not effect their connection at New York by the Wednesday's steamer, but proceeded next day by the " Kaiser Friedrich," of the Hamburg-American Packet line, reaching Southampton early on the morning of the 17th of May, nearly one day late. I have inquired into the cause of this misconnection, and enclose the report from the Superintendent of the Railway Mail-service at Chicago, from which it would appear that the delay was occasioned by a late delivery at Chicago. Mr. West does not give the cause of this late arrival, but I am strongly of the opinion that the delay was on account of the late arrival of the Union Pacific at Council Bluffs. I hope we may be more fortunate in the future. As it was, the mails only arrived at New York some two hours too late to connect with the Wednesday's boat. You will confer a favour by returning all the communications of the several Railway Superintendents enclosed for your information. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Resident Agent. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

Enclosure 1 in No. 62. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Superintendent, Railway Mail-service, Chicago. Sir, — Resident Agency for New Zealand, San Francisco, 2nd June, 1900. Upon my return from a visit to British Columbia I was mortified to learn that the Australian through mails eastbound failed to make their steamer connection at New York on the 9th May. It seems as if some delay had occurred preventing their leaving Chicago by the Lake Shore train scheduled to leave for New York at 3 a.m. Would, you be kind enough to advise v/here this delay occurred, and the cause thereof, as the misconnection at New York was a serious matter. I have asked by wire this afternoon that, in the event of a similar delay occurring this month, you will be good enough to promptly advise me, as also the New York office. Regretting troubling you in this matter, I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Resident Agent. Captain E. L. West, Superintendent, Railway Mail-service, Chicago.

Enclosure 2 in No. 62. The Superintendent, Railway Mail-service, Chicago, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Railway Mail-service, Office of Superintendent, Sixth Division, Chicago, Illinois, 6th June, 1900. Respectfully returned to H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Agency, New Zealand Government, San Francisco, Cal., — With the information that the delay complained of was because C.B. and Q. train 8 did not arrive in Chicago in time to connect with Lake Shore train 32, and we were compelled to forward the mails on No. 6. This was explained to you in my letter yesterday, and I beg to assure you that these mails will be given prompt attention, and will be connected through Chicago whenever possible. E. L. West, Superintendent.

No. 63. The Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — Resident Agency for New Zealand, San Francisco, 12th June, 1900. Your favours of the 7th and 11th of May [not printed] duly received. I much regret that my sudden call on business to the north-west prevented my usual communication by the last steamer, although there was not anything of special importance to report except the misconnection of the last homeward mails at New York with the Wednesday's steamer, which arrived at New York some two hours too late to catch the steamer, on account of the late arrival at Chicago of the Burlington mail-train from Council Bluffs. Fortunately, however, an extra boat of the Ham-