F.—6o

1901. NEW ZEALAND.

OCEAN MAIL-SERVICES.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

Statement showing the Estimated Cost of the Three-weekly San Francisco Mail-service, the Suggested Vancouver Service, and a Fortnightly Federal Service, under the Proposals submitted by the Postmaster-General on the 11th instant; the Mail-deliveries by the San Francisco and Federal Services; and Table of Distances.

SAN FEANCISCO SERVICE. Dr. Homeward. £ Payment on homeward mails ... ... ... ... 15,463 United States and Atlantic transit ... ... ... ... 6,132 Interprovincial service ... ... ... ... 5,000 Mail-agents, special trains, &c. ... ... ... ... 1,500 Cr. 28,095 Estimated postages ... ... ... ... ... 11,791 Net cost ... ... ... ... ... £16,304 If the present poundage of 10s. sd. per pound on letters continued, the payment to Messrs. Spreckels w.ould be increased from £14,407 to £17,760. At 4s. 4d. per pound—the postage equivalent of the penny rate—and 10s. sd. for letters for United States, the payment would be £11,791. Postal Union rates would amount to £6,061. VANCOUVER SERVICE. The estimated cost of a Vancouver service, if it replaced the San Francisco service, may be put down at — £ Payment for Pacific conveyance ... ... ... 20,000 Transit across Canada, United States, and Atlantic ... 6,624 Interprovincial service ... ... ... ... 5,000 Mail-agents, special trains, &c. ... ... ... 1,500 33,124 And the postage recoveries ... ... ... 11,791 Leaving ... ... ... ... £21,333 as the net cost.