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No. 97. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. (Telegram.) Wellington, 17th August, 1910. Wellington-Tahiti renewed one voyage beginning 10th September present subsidy. [Telegram in similar terms on previous day from the Secretary, General Post Office, to the Resident Agent at San Francisco.]

No. 98. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington to the Secretary, Department of Agriculture. Commerce, and Tourists, Wellington. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 9th September, 1910. In reply to the oral request made at this office, I beg to inform you that the Wellington-Papeete subsidized service, connecting at Papeete with Spreckels's service to San Francisco, was for one year from the 3rd January, 1909. On its expiry it was renewed on the same terms until May, 1910; and on the expiry of the renewed period arrangements were made for the service to be further extended until the meeting of Parliament. Thereafter the service was extended from voyage to voyage until this month. It will be replaced by the through subsidized service to be performed by the Union Steam Ship Company, commencing with the departure from Auckland on the 22nd October. Since the expiry of the original agreement in January, 1910, the steamers have made the following trips: Left Wellington 4th January, Bth February, 16th March, 21st April, 27th May, Bth July, 12th August. The steamer making the final trip is due to leave Wellington on the 16th instant, and to arrive back in Wellington on the 7th proximo. D. Robertson. The Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists, Wellington. [P.O. 10/598(2).!

INCIDENTS OF PACIFIC TRANSIT, ETC. (BY OCEANIC COMPANY.)

No. 99. The J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company, San Francisco, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, — Oceanic Steamship Company, San Francisco, Cal., 19th May, 1910. If not troubling you too much, we shall esteem it a favour if you will kindly refer to your letter of the 17th December, 1907 [No. 7, F.-6, 190SJ, addressed to Mr. J. C. Spedding, Auckland. This letter concerned settlements of certain moneys d'ne to Hie Oceanic Steamship Company for the conveyance of San Francisco and other mails, &c., up to the time of the cessation of the service. Our records show that everything was finally cleared up with the exception, perhaps, of the Australian and New Zealand transit account for 1907, which is referred to under article 5 of your letter, reading as follows: ''The parcel-post accounts for 1907 and the Australian - New Zealand transit account for the same year will be made out early in 1908, when the necessary data are available." The parcel-post accounts, amounting to £10 11s., wera duly received, but we are somewhat in doubt as to the Australian - New Zealand transit account, which we take it represents the amount due for tin: conveyance from Sydney to Auckland of mails from the United Kingdom and foreign countries. We shall esteem it a favour if you will kindly enlighten us on this subject at your earliest convenience. Thanking you in anticipation of an early reply, we remain, We have, Ac., J. J*. Spreckels anit Co., The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. > General Agents. [S.F. Payment* 10/7.1 «^.

No. 100. The Secretary, General Post Office. Wellington to the J. 0. Spreckels and Brothers Company. San Francisco. Gentlemen,- — General Post Office, Wellington, 30th June, 1910. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo, in reference to payment by this Department to the Oceanic Steamship Company for mail-conveyance, and to say that no mails from the United Kingdom and foreign countries were conveyed from Australia to New Zealand by the steamers of the company during 1907. I regret that this information was not given you in continuation of my letter to Mr. Spedding of the 17th December, 1907. T have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. Messrs. the J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company, Oceanic Steamship Company. 90 Clay Street, San Francisco, Cal. iS.F. Payments 10/9.1