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No. 11. Messrs. Hendeeson and Macfaelane, Auckland, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company (American and Australian Line), Sic, — Auckland, 18th November, 1903. We have to acknowledge receipt of your telegram of the 16th instant, in re ascertaining if the Oceanic Company at bead office accepts the term of three years as passed by Parliament. We have this morning wired you as per copy enclosed [No. 10], from which you will see that we cabled asking the president of the Oceanic Company if he would accept renewal of present contract for a term of three years, to which he replied that he would do so. We are, &c, Hendeeson and Macfaelane. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 12. The Hon. the Pbime Ministee to the Agent-Genebal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 18th November, 1903. San Feancisco mail-service renewed for three years, present terms. Spreckels has accepted. Please advise Imperial Post Office. Time-table to follow, on existing three-weekly intervals.

No. 13. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Seceetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 18th November, 1903. San Feancisco mail-service renewed for three years. Time-table to follow, on existing threeweekly intervals. Please advise States.

No. 14. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Hendeeson and Macfaelane, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, 18th November, 1903. I note that Mr. Spreckels accepts renewal of San Francisco service on the terms agreed to by the House of Representatives on Saturday morning, and Postmaster-General advised accordingly. Wish you to consider question of securing a more even interval between the arrival and departure of the mails to enable letters by incoming mails to be answered by a despatch leaving ten or twelve days later. Present time-table, as you are aware, exceedingly inconvenient, providing as it does for arrival of London mails three days after departure of outgoing, and no opportunity of sending replies for nearly three weeks. Question has already been brought under your notice.

No. 15. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent foe New Zealand, San Francisco. (Telegram.) Wellington, 19th November, 1903. House renewed San Francisco contract three years. Spreckels accepts.

No. 16. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Geneeal Managee, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sic, — • General Post Office, Wellington, 19th November, 1903. I enclose three copies of the resolutions passed by the House of Representatives last Saturday morning for the renewal of the San Francisco mail-service for a period of three years as from the 10th November, 1903. I shall be glad if you will inform me under what terms your company is prepared to renew the coastal service for the collection and distribution of the San Francisco mails for a similar period. I have, &c, The General Manager, W. Geay, Secretary. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.