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No. 79. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company (Limited), Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 9th. June, 1906. I have the honour to inform you that Mr. Lindsay, who was Mail Agent on the R.M.S. " Moana " on her recent voyage from Vancouver, has brought under notice the special efforts made by the agent of your company in Vancouver in regard to the mail-room and other fittings, and also the assistance rendered throughout the voyage by Captain Neville and Mr. Pender, the chief officer. As the action taken by your company's officers to provide for the convenience of the Mail Agents was of considerable importance to this Department, the Acting Postmaster-General desires me to convey to you his thanks for the courtesy shown in the matter, and his appreciation of the assistance rendered by your officers. I have, &c, Thomas Rose, Acting-Secretary. The Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 80. The Hon. the Acting Postmaster-General, Wellington, to Mr. D. E. Lindsay, Mail Agent, Wellington. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 11th June, 1906. I have read with much interest the report on your voyage from the 25th March to the 18th May, 1906, and the account of the action taken by you with the mails after the disaster in San Francisco of the 18th April; and I now wish to express to you my appreciation of the steps you took to divert the mail to the Vancouver route. Your prompt and correct decision in the matter under very adverse circumstances is deserving of the highest praise. As a mark of my appreciation of your action, I have instructed that a gratuity of ten guineas be paid to you; and as Mr. Hounsell, your assistant, shared the personal anxiety with you for the moment, I have also directed that a gratuity of five guineas be paid to him. Mr. Hounsell will be communicated with, and thanked for his share in overcoming the difficulties. I have, &c, Albert Pitt, D. E. Lindsaj', Esq., Mail Agent, Acting Postmaster-General. General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 81. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to Mr. H. R. Hounsell, Assistant Mail Agent, Nelson. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 27th June, 1906. The Hon. the Acting Postmaster-General has read with much interest Mr. Lindsay's report on his voyage from the 25th March to the 18th May, 1906, and the account of the action taken in connection with the mails after the disaster in San Francisco on the 18th April. The Minister is very pleased with the prompt and correct decision arrived at by the Mail Agent under the adverse circumstances, and has awarded a gratuity to Mr. Lindsay. At the same time, as you shared the personal anxiety with Mr. Lindsay for the moment, a gratuity of five guineas has been awarded to you, with the compliments and thanks of the Acting PostmasterGeneral for your share in overcoming the difficulties. A voucher for the amount has been prepared, and will be paid immediately. I have, &c, Mr. H. R. Hounsell, Assistant Mail Agent Thomas Rose, Acting-Secretary. (through the Chief Postmaster, Nelson).

No. 82. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company, San Francisco. Gentlemen,— General Post Office, Wellington, 3rd July, 1906. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st May last, notifying the temporary suspension of the San Francisco mail-service owing to the effects of the earthquake which visited that city in April last, and advising that your entire service was again in workingcondition. This Department much regrets to learn of the great inconvenience and loss sustained by your company through the severe calamity which overtook San Francisco. I note that the service has been resumed, and hope that it may be practicable to continue it with regularity. I haye x <fee, Thomas Rose, Acting-Secretary. Messrs. the J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company, General Agents, Oceanic Steamship Company, San Francisco.