F.—6

20

No. 75. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Dibectoe, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) Wellington, 27th May, 1902. Beginning with " Ventura's " departure from Auckland on Friday, 27th proximo, San Francisco steamers will sail from Auckland on Friday in place of Saturday. Hope this will result in close connection being regularly made with fast steamer from New York on the Saturday.

No. 76. Messrs. Henderson and Macfablane, Auckland, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company (American and Australian Line), Sib,— Auckland, 27th May, 1902. We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegrams of the 26th and 27th instant. We wired you this morning apologising for the delay in our reply to the former, which, as we said, was due to our waiting to hear from Sydney concerning the hour from that port of the " Ventura's " next sailing. We have also to confirm our advice that, commencing with the " Ventura " from Auckland on the 27th proximo, all Oceanic steamers are now time-tabled to leave this port on the Friday, or the day previous to the sailing-date given in the 1902 time-table. With regard to the sailing-hour from Auckland, we anticipate that it will remain the same as heretofore— viz., 2 p.m. — but will advise you by telegram as soon as we can decide. Trusting that the change in sailing-date will bring about the desired result, namely, the delivery of the New Zealand mails to the Saturday steamer from New York, We have, &c, Hendeeson and Macfaelane. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 77. The Hon. the Acting-Pbemieb to the Agent-Geneeal. (Telegram) Wellington, 28th May, 1902. Beginning with "Ventura's" departure twenty-seventh proximo, San Francisco steamers will leave Auckland Friday in place of Saturday. Advise Imperial Post Office.

No. 78. Messrs. Henderson and Macfablane, Auckland, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Auckland, 29th May, 1902, Eeceivbd cable from Spreckels reading, " We will agree detention not exceeding three days Frisco, twenty-four hours Auckland. Demurrage after first twelve hours at each port five pounds per hour." This practically accords with the revised draft contract forwarded per "Ventura," and I think should allow of the contract being signed at this end and forwarded next mail for signature. Spreckels do not think cable reply to Frisco necessary.

No. 79. The Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 30th May, 1902. I have the honour to inform you that it has been arranged with Messrs. the J. D. Spreckels and Bros. Company that, beginning with the " Ventura's " departure from Auckland on the 27th proximo, the San Francisco steamers shall sail from Auckland on Friday instead of Saturday. This change, it is hoped, will permit of the Homeward mails connecting regularly with the fast steamer leaving New York on the Saturday for Great Britain. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco.

No. 80. The Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Hendeeson and Macfablane, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, 30th May, 1902. Fe'isco contract and your telegram of yesterday: Under clause 9, Frisco detention ninety-six hours. This important, and I hesitate to recommend Minister to accept three days, as indicated in telegram to you from Spreckels, I think Spreckels should give way.