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No. 125. The Assistant Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, sth February, 1913. I have the honour to refer to the late arrival at Sydney of the s.s. " Warrimoo " on the voyage commenced at Wellington on the 24th ultimo, and shall he glad of any reason you may wish to offer why the penalty for late arrival should not be enforced. I have, &c, F. V. Waters, Assistant Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. [Suez Conn. 13/B.]

No. 126. The Secretary. Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office. Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited). Sir,- Dunedin, Bth February, 1913. [ have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of sth February, regarding the time of the arrival of the s.s. " Warrimoo "at Sydney on 29th ultimo. We have since had an opportunity of obtaining a report from the master, and find from the official log that after leaving Wellington on the 24th January exceptionally heavy weather was experienced, as the following extracts will show :■ 25th January. Heavy head swell and confused seas, ship pitching heavily. 26th .. Considerable swell and confused seas, and rain-squalls. 27th ~ Moderate rain with high confused seas, shipping water fore and aft, ship labouring heavily. 28th ~ Strong northerly wind, rough beam and confused seas, ship pitching and rolling heavily, spraying over all. This weather continued until the " Warrimoo " entered the Heads at 6.30 p.m. on that date. Under the circumstances, we hope the Department will see its way to recognize that the trip was longer than usual owing to causes over which we had no control. It will, no doubt, be recollected that about this time exceptionally bad cyclonic weather was reported on the Australian coast. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. C. Hughes, Secretary. [Suez Conn. 13/9.]

No. 127. The Assistant Secretary. General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary. Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 20th February, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth instant, in reference to the late arrival at Sydney of the s.s. " Warrimoo " on the voyage commenced at Wellington on the 24th ultimo, and to inform you that, as the failure to make the connection with the mail-train at Sydney was due to exceptionally bad weather, the Postmaster-General has decided that the penalty for late arrival is not to be enforced. I have, <fee, F. V. Waters, Assistant Secretary. The Secretary, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. [Acknowledged, 24th February.] [Suez Pnnn. 13/11.1

No. 128. The President. Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, to the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral, Wellington. Sir, — Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, 27th February, 1913. I have the honour to enclose copy of a resolution passed at yesterday's meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. In view of the rumour that the Union Steam Ship Company intend to replace the steamers on the run Sydney to Wellington by boats of greater speed, it is believed that the present is an opportune moment to bring the subject of the resolution to your notice. A copy of the resolution has been sent to the Union Company. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. R. Hill Fisher, President. Suez Conn. 18/15.]