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respects to the requirements of the Postmaster-General, and such extended service shall he maintained by the Company under and subject to all the provisions hereinbefore contained. In witness whereof the Postmaster-General hath hereunto set his hand and seal, and the Company hath hereunto caused its common seal to be affixed, the day and year first above written. Signed by the said Joseph George Ward, Postmaster-1 General of New Zealand, for and on behalf of [ J. G. Wahd. [l.s.| His Majesty, in tho presence of— J. HISLOP, Private Secretary, Wellington. The common seal of the Union Steam Ship Company \ of New Zealand (Limited) was hereunto affixed { [l.s.] by Valentine Johnson, in the presence of — ) J. M. Ritchie, i „. Johx Roberts, j D^ o ™

No. 42. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, Gen&ral Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sm,- Dunedin, 24th November, 1910. 1 have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 21st instant advising having sent to the commanders of tho " Aorangi " and " Maitai " v supply of forms on which you wish them to furnish you a report on each voyage. We have instructed the commanders of both vessels to report direct to you as requested. I have, <fee, R. McK. MoLennan, The Secretary. General Post Office, Wellington. For General Manager. [Wn.-S.F. 10/244.]

No. 43. The Resident Agent fob \t:\\ Zealand, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — Resident Agency for New Zealand, San Francisco, 12th December, 1910. I have the honour to report that the s.s. " Maitai " arrived at this port on Thursday, the Bth instant, at 11 p.m.—too late to pass quarantine. The Japanese steamer ,: Chio Maru " arrived at 11.30 p.m. the same evening, and received the services of the quarantine official before the '' Maitai,'' the latter vessel not being visited by the Health officers and Customs officials until 8.30 a.m., and not released until 9.-30 a.m. The " Maitai " arrived off the dock at 10.5 a.m., and made fast alongside at 10.15 a.m., the mails being landed at 10.45 a.m. The Overland Limited, however, left at 10.40 p.m., the mails thus missing the fast connection by about half an hour. Every possible endeavour was made by the Post Office officials, the teamster, and Messrs. Spreckels to expedite the matter, but the delay in quarantine was fatal. 1 used every endeavour to delay the Limited half an hour, but Pound h impossible. The mails left this city at 6 p.m. on Friday, and are due ai .\V« Fork <"' Wednesday morning at 7.r>3 a.m. If they arrive at N»w York on time every exertion will be made to make the connection with the Ounard Steamship Company's " Coronia," leaving New York at 10 a.m. I have discussed the question of :hese delays in quarantine and Customs with the captain of the " .Maitai.'' the U.S. officials, ami Messrs. Spreckels Bios., but have not much hope of effecting anything . . . The only alternative is to expedite the arrival of the steamers so as to make an arrival at this port during the winter season not later than 3 p.m., so as to get the chance of leaving by the 6 p.m. train on Thursday night. Captain Stevens says it is simply a matter of coal. Is it possible to put forward the departure from Auckland one day—that is, to make a Friday's departure in place of the present-Saturday's? I also wish to direct your attention to the delay that is now caused by the absence of a Mail Agent on these steamers. The vessels arrive in this port with the entire bulk of mail for all destinations in one mass, causing a delay of from fifteen to twenty-five minutes in discharging and separating the mails. If an officer was in charge of the mails the through mails could be kept apart and brought on deck ready for immediate discharge into a waiting conveyance, and sent off to the railway ferry with only :i few minutes' delay, and a few minutes may save several days at final destination. .As it. is, the connection is almost too close to insure any certain connection under the prevailing circumstances. Everything is being dune at this port, except by the Federal officials, to facilitate the despatch of the mails and secure a connection, and it is with much regret that I have to report two failures to connect with the Limited trains. I have, &c, H. Stephenson Smith, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Resident Agsnt for New Zealand. Wn.-S.F.*ll/6-7.]

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