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ardent wishes, and I shall pursue more vigorously than ever what I believe to be one of the most important of modern reforms. As I said in my telegram, I hope the day will soon arrive when you will establish the equivalent of the penny postage with the world. I have, &c, Jas. McGowan, The Postmaster-General, Washington, D.C. For the Postmaster-General. [P.O. 06/263(7).]

No. 11. The Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. Sir, — Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, Bth November, 1906. Penny Postage. 1 have the honour to confirm my telegram of the 7th instant, announcing the agreement of the United States Government to receive New Zealand letters prepaid Id. the half-ounce as fully prepaid. It will no doubt be a matter of as much gratification to yourself as it is to the Government to hear of so important a recognition of the principle of the penny post. I have, &c, Jas. McGowan, For the Prime Minister. The Hon. W. P. Reeves, High Commissioner for New Zealand, London. [P.O. 06/263(7).]

No. 12. The High Commissioner to the Hon. the Prime Minister. (Telegram.) London, 16th November, 1906. In answer to your telegram of 7th November Postmaster-General states first October, nineteen hundred and seven, has been proposed to British colonies date for ounce minimum. [P.O. 06/268(9).]

No. 13. The High Commissioner to the Hon. the Prime Minister. Sir, Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London, S.W., 16th November, 1906. Referring to your cablegram of the 7th instant, I beg to transmit copy of letter from the General Post Office stating that the Ist October, 1907, has been proposed as the date at which the unit of weight under the Imperial penny-postage scheme shall be raised from \ oz. to 1 oz. I have, &c, Walter Kennaway, The Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. For the High Commissioner. (P.O. 06/263(7).]

Enclosure in No. 13. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the High Commissioner. Sir,— General Post Office, London, E.C., 15th November, 1906. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant [not printed], announcing that the rate of postage on letters sent from New Zealand to the United States of America was reduced to Id. the half-ounce, from the Ist November. With reference to the last paragraph of your letter, I am to state that it has been proposed to the Governments of British colonies and protectorates to raise the unit of weight under the Imperial penny-postage scheme from J oz. to 1 oz. on the Ist October, 1907. I am, &c, The High Commissioner for New Zealand. H. Buxton Forman. -

No. 14. The Right Hon. the Secretary op State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. g IR Downing Street, 23rd November, 1906. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a summary, prepared by the General Post Office, London, of the principal results of the deliberations of the Congress of the Universal Postal Union held at Rome in April last. It will be seen that, while the initial postage-rate for letters remains 25 centimes or 2£d., the rate for each successive unit or fraction thereof is to be 15 centimes or ljd., and that the unit