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No. 85. The Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. Pacific Cable Board : Proposed Call of Vancouver Mail-steamer at Fanning Island. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 10th January, 1913. In reference to your letter of the 22nd November last (No. 6289), forwarding one from the Chairman of the Pacific Cable Board renewing the Board's request that the Vancouver mail-steamers be allowed to make v deviation in one northward voyage out of three in order to make a (all at Fanning Island, I have the honour to request that you will inform the Chairman of the Board that the Postmaster-General regrets that he is .still unable to agiee to the proposed deviation. The reasons already given for not complying with the request are still good. The regularity of the service is paramount, and it is held that nothing should be allowed to interfere with the quickest transport possible of the mails between the terminal points. It is understood that if the deviation were allowed the cost of making it would be paid by the Board. It is noticed that the Board has recently decided to enter into an agreement for a service to Fanning Island eight times a year by the s.s. " Kestrel," and the proposed service by the Vancouver steamer appears, therefore, not to be an absolute necessity, even if this Government found it practicable to concede it. I have, &c, R. Heaton Rhodes, For the Prime Minister. The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, F.R.G.S., High Commissioner for New Zealand, London. [Letter, dated Istli January, in similar terms sent by Postmaster-General to Secretary, General Post Office, London.] [Vane. Misc. 13/5.]

No. 86. The Commander, R.M.S. " Zealandia," to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Extract.) R.M.S. " Zealandia," 18th January, 1913. Eastern and United Kingdom mail shipped aboard Canadian Pacific Railway ferry-boat at Victoria. From the 26th to 30th December a succession of heavy south-westerly and westerly gales, with high head seas, was experienced, delaying vessel's progress considerably, speed having to be reduced at frequent intervals. Ist January, 5.20 p.m., the h.p. cylinder-cover of starboard engine blew out, causing vessel to proceed to Honolulu under one engine, at which port repairs were made, causing a delay of two days fifteen hours. The coal strike at Vancouver still being on, vessel proceeded to Seattle to bunker. Owing to the increased consumption of thr coal received there, vessel wa delayed a further eight hours and a half coaling at Suva. [P.O. 12/520(2).]

No. 87. The Hon. the Postmaster-General to the Secretary. General Post Office, London. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 27th January, 1913. 1 have the honour to refer to your letter of the 9th ultimo, and to say that this Administration concurs in the proposal that payment for the sea transit of British mails embarked on the steamers of the Union Steam Ship Company at Vancouver should be made to the Canadian Post Office. I have, &c, W. R. Morris, The Secretary, General Post Office, London. - For the Postmaster-General. [Vane. Misc. 13/12.]