F.—6b.

No. 3,

Return to an Order of the House of Eepresentatives, Friday, the 17th Day of July, 1903. Ordered, That there be laid before this House a return showing— (1.) The total number of saloon passengers landed in Auckland by the San Francisco mail-steamers from America; (2.) Total steerage passengers landed in Auckland by such steamers ; (3.) Same details for passengers booked from Auckland to San Francisco ; (4.) Total tonnage of cargo landed in Auckland from such steamers; (5.) Total tonnage shipped from Auckland for America by such steamers; (6.) How many trips mails were landed in advance of contract time ; (7.) How many trips mails were landed in excess of contract time ; and (8.) Total amount paid — (a.) For poundage rates, (b.) For railway carriage, (c.) To Union Company for subsidy on coastal service. This return to be for the eighteen months covered by the resolution of the House consenting to the present contract. (On the motion of Mr. Millar.) Return in connection with the Mail-service between San Francisco and Auckland (during currency of last contract for eighteen months ended the 31st May, 1903). (1.) The total number of saloon passengers landed in Auckland by the San Francisco mail-steamers from America... ... ..'. 766 (2.) Total steerage passengers landed in Auckland by such steamers ... 101 £? (3.) Same details for passengers booked from Auckland to San Francisco— rs *. (a.) Saloon... ... ... ... ... ... 974 ><S © (b.) Steerage ... ... ... ... ... 261 CT S (4.) Total tonnage of cargo landed in Auckland from such steamers ... 14,850 -2 (5.) Total tonnage shipped from Auckland for America by such ft steamers ... ... ... ... ... ... 6,000'^ (6.) How many trips mails were landed in advance of contract time — (a.) San Francisco to Auckland ... ... ... 10 (6.) Auckland to San Francisco ... ... ... 5 (7.) How many trips mails were landed in excess of contract time— (a.) San Francisco to Auckland ... ... ... 16 (b.) Auckland to San Francisco (1 trip due time)... ... 21 (8.) Total amount paid— a s . d. (a.) For poundage rates ... ... ... 25,018 2 4 (b.) For railway carriage ... ... ... 1,169 19 3 (c.) To Union Company for subsidy on coastal service 7,365 9 2

No. 4.

The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 24th July, 1903. I send herewith two copies of the draft memorandum of agreement [No. 5] extending the San Francisco service for six months, signed by the Hon. the Postmaster-General. I shall be obliged if you will have one of these dated, completed, and returned to this office. The three blank copies you may wish to have for the purposes of your own office files. I have, &c, Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. W. Gray, Secretary.

No. 5.

Memorandum of agreement, made this eighteenth day of August, one thousand nine hundred and three, between the Honourable Sir Joseph George Ward, K.C.M.G., Postmaster-General of the Colony of New Zealand (party to and named and described in an agreement, dated the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and two, copy whereof is annexed hereto) [No. 90, F.-6, 1902] of the one part, and the J. D. Spreokels and Brothers Company (also party to and named and described in the said agreement) of the other part : Witnesseth that, in order to enable the House of Representatives to consider and deal with the question of the San Francisco mail-service provided for in the said agreement, it is hereby mutually agreed between the parties hereto that the term of the said agreement (being an agreement for the conveyance of mails between New Zealand and San Francisco) shall be and the same is hereby renewed and extended for a period of six calendar months, computed from the thirty-first day of May, one thousand nine hundred

* From information supplied by the Customs Department.

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