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No. 75. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Agents, Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, Wellington, and the General Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 29th March, 1906. Adverting to Mr. Gray's letter of the 25th October last, and to subsequent correspondence on the subject of the payment for the conveyance of parcel mails by your company's steamers, I have the honour to* inform you that I am now in receipt of a letter from the London Post Office advising that arrangements have been made with the shipping companies concerned for the conveyance of parcel mails from the United Kingdom to this colony, payment for the service, as from the Ist October last, to be at the rate of id. for each parcel not exceeding 3 lb. in weight, Bd. for each parcel exceeding 31b. but not exceeding 71b., and Is. for each parcel exceeding 71b. but not exceeding 11 lb. The understanding is that similar rates of payment shall apply to homeward parcels. For the quarter ended the 31st December last the accounts for parcels conveyed from New Zealand to London have been prepared on the basis of the new rates of payment. With regard to the suggestion that the new rates should apply for the quarter ended the 30th September last, I beg to inform you that under the circumstances accounts for the conveyance of parcel mails both outward and inward for that quarter have been prepared at the old rates. Vouchers have been made out and payment will be arranged forthwith. 1 have, &c, Thomas Rose, Acting-Secretary. The General Manager, The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch. [Letter of same date in same terms to Messrs. Levin and Co. (Limited), Agents, the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company (Limited), Wellington.]

No. 76. The Hon. the Acting Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 29th March, 1906. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th January last, in which you inform me that arrangements have been made with the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company and the New Zealand Shipping Company for the conveyance of the parcel mails from your country to New Zealand, and that payment for the service as from the Ist October last would be made by your Department to the companies at the rate of 4d. for each parcel not exceeding 3 lb. in weight, Bd. for each parcel exceeding 3 lb. but not exceeding 71b., and Is. for each parcel exceeding 7 lb. but not exceeding 11 lb. I gather from a copy of a letter from the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company to you that the question of the rates on homeward parcels has been discussed at the same time, and that the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company has agreed to the same rates for homeward parcels. I should be obliged if you would inform me whether the New Zealand Shipping Company has also agreed to the new rates for homeward parcels. It is, of course, understood that this office will continue to pay for the conveyance of parcels despatched from this colony, but it is desirable that a formal agreement should be entered into with the companies unless a provision is contained in the agreement with your office. It would be a convenience if you could see your way to supply me with a copy of the agreement made between your Department and the shipping companies. I have, &c, Thomas Rose, For the Acting Postmaster-General. The Secretary, General Post Office, London.

No. 77. The General Manager, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch, Sir,— 2nd April, 1906. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 29th ultimo, and note the arrangement entered into in London regarding conveyance of parcel-post mail matter between this colony and the United Kingdom. We note that vouchers for payment of mail money to 31st December last have been made out, and payment will be arranged forthwith. I have, &c, Isaac Gibbs, General Manager. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,550 copies), £Yl Us.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9of) Price 94,]