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No. 83. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, Oakland (San Francisco). Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 7th July, 1906. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th May last, on the subject of the San Francisco earthquake and other matters. I need hardly say that you have my fullest sympathy in the great disaster which overtook the city. I regret to learn that the official records were destroyed, but it is satisfactory to know that you escaped. The suspension of the mail-service was unfortunate, but under the circumstances it could not, of course, be avoided. Fortunately we were able to divert the mails which arrived at San Francisco on the day of the earthquake to Vancouver. They came forward by the R.M.S. " Moana," which for the one voyage was allowed to call at Auckland. She made the excellent time of 18 days 23 hours, and the mails reached New Zealand with a delay of only eleven days. The succeeding mail was diverted at London to the Brindisi route, and reached New Zealand without undue delay. The " Sonoma," which resumed the service from your port on the 31st May, was five days late in reaching Auckland. This was accounted for by her bottom being foul, the absence of facilities in San Francisco having prevented her from being docked for a considerable time. I understand that she has been docked in Sydney; but this operation has delayed her departure so much that the mail which should have left Auckland yesterday will not now leave until the 11th instant, five days late. I note the action you took about ordering Mr. Willett to San Francisco. This is approved. I had, however, intended to make other arrangements for supplying Mr. Rudd with assistance, fearing that Mr. Lindsay and his assistant might be somewhat overtasked on the " Moana " ; but no harm was done, as Mr. Lindsay succeeded in completing the work in good time. I have heard from Mr. Lindsay since his departure. He thought he might be able to reach San Francisco from Honolulu, but failing advice from him, I presume he has had to go on to Vancouver. He should yet be able to reach San Francisco in good time for the departure of the steamer on the 12th instant. Mr. Gowing, his assistant, went forward by the previous Vancouver steamer, and was instructed to report in San Francisco about this date. It is to be sincerely hoped that matters in San Francisco will now be settling down, and that the mail-service will hereafter be run with more regularity and despatch than was the case before the earthquake. I have, &c, Thomas Rose, Acting-Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, Tribune Building, Eighth Street, Oakland, California.

No. 84. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Resident Agent for New Zealand, Oakland, San Francisco. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 12th July, 1906. I have the honour to inform you that a remittance of £40 sent you by the Chief Postmaster, Wellington, on the 26th February last, and the receipt of which you acknowledged on the 29th March, does not appear to have been accounted for. I note from your letter to me of the 28th May that all your office records were destroyed in the earthquake and fire of the 18th April, but I shall be glad if you will do your best to inform me how the remittance was disposed of. I have, <&c, Thomas Rose, Acting-Secretary. H. Stephenson Smith, Esq., Resident Agent for New Zealand, Tribune Building, Eighth Street, Oakland, Cal., U.S.A.