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The ship is in heavy draught, and it is high water at the bar at 10.50 a.m. Should the mail arrive at 10 o'clock it would take an hour to transport it to the Cunard Dock for delivery to the ship, so that the "Etruria" could not reach the bar before 1 o'clock, say, upwards of two hours after high water, which on a falling tide would hardly be a prudent thing to do. In view of the fact that under most favourable circumstances the connection is very close, and that missing the Saturday ship means keeping the mail at New York until Tuesday or Wednesday, we again call your attention to our previous inquiry as to whether it would not be possible to start your mail-ships from Australia twelve hours earlier than under present schedule. It is unfortunate that the depth of water on Sandy Hook bar is so limited as to make it necessary to time our sailings to meet the tides. Yours truly, E. F. Burnett, Esq., Vgenon H. Beown and Co. Oceanic Steamship Company, 427, Broadway, New York City.

No. 37. The Resident Agent fob New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sic, — Resident Agency for New Zealand, San Francisco, 17th September, 1903. Your long and interesting letter of the 19th ultimo [not printed] came to hand by the " Sonoma," which arrived on Monday afternoon (a holiday here). The mails went off at 6 p.m., but I am sorry to say missed the " Etruria." The tide serving at an early hour prevented the steamer being held; but, as the mails caught the fast " Deutschland" on Tuesday, I hope the delay will not be so serious at the other end. It does not appear what was the reason why the " Sonoma" did not do better, as the voyage was exceptionally smooth throughout. ***** Yours, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, Resident Agent. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 38. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Mail-agent, R.M.S. " Ventura," Honolulu. (Telegram.) Wellington, 6th October, 1903. Fumigate American Honolulu.

No. 39. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent foe New Zealand, San Francisco. (Telegram.) Wellington, 6th October, 1903. Insteuct agents to fumigate American Honolulu mails until further notice.

No. 40. The Resident Agent foe New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) San Francisco, Bth October, 1903. Clean bills of health now issued here.

No. 41. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Hendeeson and Macfaelane, Auckland. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, Bth October, 1903. I have the honour to inform you that the Resident Agent for New Zealand at San Francisco, under date the 17th ultimo, reports that the R.M.S. " Sonoma," which left Auckland on the 21st August last, did not arrive at the San Francisco wharf until 4.30 p.m. on the 7th September, and that in consequence the mails which went forward by the 6 p.m. express failed to connect at New York with the s.s. " Etruria," leaving there on the following Saturday at. 9 a.m. The misconnection emphasizes the importance of schedule time being maintained, and I have to request that the necessity be again urged upon the Oceanic Steamship Company for its steamers arriving at San Francisco in time for the mails to be despatched by the east-bound train leaving San Francisco on the Monday morning. I have, &c, Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. W. Geay, Secretary.

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