29

F.—6

service would be not only unsatisfactory, but very costly. Without periodical calls at Fanning Island to relieve the staff and to supply them with fresh provisions, postal communication, &c, it would not be possible for the Board to maintain the station efficiently, or without great hardship to the staff on the island. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, London, S.W. W. H. Mercer, for Chairman.

Enclosure 2 in No. 94. The Right Hon.. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to Their Excellencies the GovernorsGeneral of Canada and Australia. (Telegram.) London, 11th March, 1908. Pacific Cable Board state that they understand that Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand is experiencing difficulty in obtaining permission to make call at Fanning Island on alternative southward voyages from Vancouver to Sydney under contract with your Government. Board represent that this only convenient means of communication with the island and that any other procedure will involve great cost, while total delay caused could not exceed twelve hours. They ask that permission be given for calls on voyages of steamers leaving Vancouver 27th March and 22nd May in order that matter may be fully considered and, if necessary, other arrangements made. I trust your Ministers will find it possible to give request favourable consideration.

No. 95. The Acting-Postmaster, Vancouver, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir— Post Office, Vancouver, 8.C., 11th March, 1908. I have your letter of the 12th ultimo, and beg to inform you that we have been authorised to make up direct mails for Fanning Island, and forward same, commencing by the steamer " Moana " on the 27th instant, and every second steamer thereafter. I have, &c, Francis E. Harrison, Acting-Postmaster. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [O.K. 1852-08/I.J

No. 96. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Chief Postmaster, Auckland. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 21st April, 1908. Direct Mails from Vancouver to Fanning Island. The Postmaster at Vancouver, under date of the 11th ultimo, stated that he would forward direct mails to Fanning Island by the steamer " Moana " on the 27th idem, and by every second steamer thereafter. Please note, and inform the Postmaster, Fanning Island. The Chief Postmaster, Auckland. D. Robertson, Secretary. [O.R. 1852-08/ I.]

No. 97. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) Wellington, 14th May, 1908. Is there at the present time any difficulty subsisting between your company and the Commonwealth Government in the matter of the southward call at Fanning Island ? [O.R. 1852.J

No. 98. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 14th May, 1908. The accelerated time-table Vancouver steamers necessitated our abandoning northward calls Fanning. We offered to let alternate steamers call coming south, provided Pacific Cable Board secured consent of contracting Governments. We have just received cablegram from our Sydney manager intimating consent now given. " Aorangi," leaving Vancouver 22nd May, will call Fanning if Cable Board wish. [O.R. 1852.]