F.—6a,

8

AUSTRALIA-SUEZ SERVICES.

No. 20. The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney, to the Secretabt, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 9th February, 1905. Wellington mails " Waikare," Auckland " Mokoia " for " Ormuz ' : Send weights.

No. 21. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 10th February, 1905. Weights mails Wellington " Waikare," letters twenty-five pounds six ounces, other articles one hundred and sixteen pounds. Auckland " Mokoia," letters eleven pounds, other articles fifty pounds. If " Wanaka " mail Auckland second February kept for '• Ormuz " add, letters seventeen pounds three ounces, other articles one hundred and twelve pounds four ounces.

No. 22. The Deputy Postmaster-Genehal, Sydney, 1.0 the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Commonwealth of Australia, Postmaster-General's Department, Sir, — General Post Office, Sydney, 11th February, 1905. I have the honour, with reference to my cablegram of the 9th instant, asking for the weights of mail-matter shipped per "Waikare" from Wellington, and "Mokoia" from Auckland for " Ormuz," to inform you that the information asked for is necessary so that this Department can pay the amount due according to poundage-rates on shipping mails on board the "Ormuz." . This information will also be required in all similar cases in future, and I shall be glad if you will kindly cause same to be supplied. I have, <fee, G. P. Unwin, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Deputy Postmaster-General.

No. 23. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 4th March, 1905. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to inform you that, in consequence of the termination of the contract between this Department and the Orient Steam Navigation Company, the colonial authorities have rearranged the working of the service between Colombo and Mauritius, and that the packets of the British India Steam Navigation Company conveying the mails between Ceylon and Mauritius now leave Colombo in connection with the arrival at that port of packets of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. I am to enclose for your information copies of the time-table [not printed] which has been furnished to this office, showing the sailings of the packets in question under the present arrangement. It is observed that in the notice issued by you the dates of sailing from and arrival at Colombo are not in accordance with the new time-table. I am, &c, E. Crabb, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. For the Secretary.

No. 24. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 15th March, 1905. Now that Commonwealth paying ordinary poundage-rates for transmission European mails, presume our payment to you reduced accordingly. Kindly state rates.