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Insured-letter agreement. 9. The accounting for insured letters and boxes is to be effected on a statistical basis, instead of piece by piece as formerly. Operation of new Convention. 10. The new Postal Union Convention signed at Rome and the changes set forth above are to come into force on the Ist October, 1907. Next Congress. 11. The next Congress will meet at Madrid. General Post Office, London. 26th July, 1906.

No. 15. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Postmaster-General, Washington. Dear Mr. Cortelyou,— General Post Office, Wellington, 18th December, 1906. I have your letter of the 20th October last, anent your accepting our penny letters for delivery within the United States, and note the reasons why you were unable to apply the penny rate in both directions. The reduced Postal Union rates, which become operative on the Ist October next, will be a considerable relief to the public, and at the same time should do much to hurry on universal penny postage, wihch I hope your Administration will assist to see consummated. Yours, &0., Jos. Geo. Ward, Postmaster-General. George B. Cortelyou, Esq., Postmaster-General, Washington, D.C. [P.O. 06/263(7).]

No. 16. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington Sir, — General Post Office, London, 19th December, 1906. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter of the 27th October, announcing that arrangements have been made to introduce a postage-rate of Id. the half-ounce on letters posted in New Zealand addressed to the United States of America. 1 am, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. E. W. Farnall. [P.O. 06/263(7).]

No. 17. The Hon. the Acting Prime Minister, Wellington, to His Excellency the Governor. (Memorandum.) Wellington, 11th February, 1907. The Acting Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor, and begs to inform him, in connection with paragraph 2 of the accompanying despatch of the 23rd November last from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that New Zealand will be prepared to raise the unit of weight of letters admissible at the minimum rate to 1 oz. as from the Ist October next. This Government also agrees to the penny rate of postage being applied to all letters not exceeding 1 oz. in weight posted to or from places within the Empire, and has already raised the weight to 4oz. within the colony. His Excellency the Governor. Wμ. Hall-Jones. [P.O. 07/236(1).]

No. 18. The Director, International Bureau, Universal Postal Union, Berne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [Translation.] Sir, — Berne, 6th April, 1907. Referring to my circular of the 25th August, 1905 [not printed], I have the honour to forward you herewith a translation of a letter which the Postmaster-General's Department of the Commonwealth of Australia has just forwarded me: — Sir,— Melbourne, 23rd February, 1907. Referring to communication of the 12th July, 1905 [not printed], in which I informed you that an agreement had l>een entered into for the admission and distribution, without surcharge, in the Commonwealth of Australia, of letters originating in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland addressed to the Commonwealth of Australia and prepaid at the rate of Id. per I oz. and the reduction from 2Jd. to 2d. per J oz. on letters from the Commonwealth for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and that as the result of requests which have been