F.—6

37

The delay which arose in connection with the landing of the mails by the " Ventura" at San Francisco suggests the importance of some change being made in the quarantine regulations whereby the mails would be permitted to be put ashore on the arrival of the steamer and before the Health Officer's examination, provided there were no disease on the vessel and that she had not sailed from or touched at an infected port, and that a declaration to this effect were n ade at the time by the captain to the mail-officer. Such a practice exists in this colony, and I am of opinion that serious delays to the mails would be avoided were something of the kind adopted by the health authorities of San Francisco. I should be glad to know whether you consider it possible to bring about a change in the methods of the Health Officer's practice as indicated. I have requested Mr. Smith to see you in the matter. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. Messrs. the J. D. Spreckels and Bros. Company, San Francisco.

No. 115. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Eesidbnt Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 16th October, 1901. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th ultimo, notifying the late arrival at San Francisco of the " Ventura's" mails, and their connection with the " Campania " at New York with the assistance of special trains for a portion of the journey through the United States. The action of Messrs. Spreckels Bros, and the Chicago-Burlington-Quincy Eailroad Company in arranging special trains is much appreciated by the Postmaster-General, who acknowledges your promptness in suitably thanking the management. I am writing Messrs. Spreckels Bros, thanking them for arranging for the special from Chicago to Toledo, which enabled connection to be made with the " Campania" and the mails to be delivered in London on due date. I would add that the incidents connected with the delay in getting the "Ventura's" mails on shore at San Francisco suggest the importance of some change being made in the quarantine regulations whereby the landing of the mails would be permitted on the arrival of the steamer and before the Health Officer's examination, provided there were no disease on the vessel and that she had not sailed from or touched at an infected port, and that a declaration to this effect were made at the time by the captain to the mail-officer. Such a practice exists in this colony, and I am of opinion that serious delay to the mails would be avoided were something of the kind adopted by the health authorities of San Francisco. I shall be glad if you will endeavour to bring about a change in the direction indicated, in co-operation with Mr. Spreckels, to whom I have mentioned the matter. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Eesident Agent for New Zealand, San Francisco.

No. 116. Messrs. Hendeeson and Macfaelane, Auckland, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company (American and Australian Line), Sic— v Auckland, 22nd October, 1901. A propos of the fast run of the " Ventura" hence on 17th August last to San Francisco, I have now pleasure in enclosing herewith a pamphlet describing in detail the transcontinental carriage of the New Zealand mails, which will no doubt interest you. I also have pleasure in enclosing a permanent pass to board Oceanic steamers at this -port, and trust that in the near future you will have an opportunity of using it. I have, &c, Hendeeson and Macfaelane. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

Enclosure in No. 116. A Eecoed Eun aceoss the Ameeican Continent : a Eace with the Austealian Mails. The San Francisco Chronicle of the 6th, 7th, and Bth September devotes considerable space to the fastest run ever made across the American Continent with the colonial mails, which left Sydney on the 13th August, and Auckland on the 17th August, per Oceanic Steamship Company's A. & A. liner E.M.S. " Ventura." It remarks, — " A world's mail record is being beaten by several days between Australia and Liverpool by way of the United States. The most wonderful sprint of the journey was made yesterday by an American locomotive darting eastward out of Chicago ... in pursuit of the regular "mail flier that had a tremendous start of one hour and a half. . . . On Monday, the " Ventura," one of the new Pacific greyhounds of the Oceanic Steamship Company, arrived here after a fast trip from Australia with the colonial mails; but owing to quarantine and Customhouse regulations she was delayed in the harbour all night before inspections were made and the vessel docked. Hence despatch was delayed until Tuesday. Then John D. Spreckels, president of the Oceanic Steamship Company, called upon Carleton C. Crane, Pacific Coast agent of the New York Central