F.—6a

26

INTERPROVINCIAL SERVICE.

No. 95. The Chief Postmaster, Auckland, to the Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Memorandum.) Auckland, 9th March, 1906. Referring to my telegram of the 26th ultimo, and your reply thereto of even date [not printed], concerning the possible detention of the " Rarawa " at Onehunga for the inward San Francisco mail, and the question of providing a special train from New Plymouth, with carriages for passengers, in the event of the steamer failing to make connection with the express, I have received pressing representations from the managers of both the Union Steam Ship Company and the Northern Steamship regarding the matter. They ask that a clear and permanent understanding shall be arrived at, and that the question shall not be left to be threshed out over and over again every time there is a prospect of the detention of the steamer at Onehunga. The matter to be settled is very simple : Will the Department undertake to provide a special train at New Plymouth on all occasions, with carriages for passengers, when the steamer fails to make connection with the express in consequence of having been detained at Onehunga beyond the usual sailingtime in order to take on board the San Francisco mail? The managers of the two companies have both stated their intention of not holding their steamers unless they receive the required guarantee. They point to the serious inconvenience which would be caused to through passengers in the event of their detention for a day at New Plymouth. The request seems to me a reasonable one, and I shall be glad if 3 7 ou can see your way to approve it. D. Gumming, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Chief Postmaster.

No. 96. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Railway Department, Wellington. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd March, 1906. Special Trains from New Plymouth with Inward San Francisco Mail. It has frequently happened during the last few years that it has been necessary to arrange for a special train to bring the San Francisco mails southward from New Plymouth. So far as I know your Department has in all cases attached sufficient carriages to such special trains to provide for the passengers arriving by the steamer from Manukau. For some reason, which is not quite clear, the shipping companies have suddenly insisted upon the Chief Postmaster at Auckland giving them a guarantee that when the steamer is detained carriages will always be attached to the special trains. Will you kindly say what answer should be given to this, and whether it is understood that the payment by this Department for a special train includes payment for passenger-carriages, or whether your Department always undertakes to send passengers by the special trains engaged by the Post Office for the conveyance of English mails. Thomas Rose, Acting-Secretary. The General Manager, Railway Department, Wellington.

No. 97. The General Manager, New Zealand Railways, Wellington, to the Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. New Zealand Government Railways, Head Office, Wellington, 26th April, 1906. (Memorandum.) Tour Communication of the 23rd ultimo: Special Trains for San Francisco Mails. In cases where the Postal Department orders specials for the conveyance of Frisco mails it is the practice of the Railway Department to attach carriages for the conveyance of any passengers arriving by steamer who wish to go on by the special train. This, however, is only done in cases where the special runs through. On the New Plymouth section the specia; sometimes overtakes goods-trains, by which the mails are sent on, and the Department cannot in such circumstances undertake to convey the passengers by the goods-trains. No charge is made to your Department in respect to the carriages placed on special trains, but the fares of any passengers