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BLUFF-MELBOUKNE SBEVIGE.

No. 95. The Assistant Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 24th December, 1914. I have the honour to request that you will inform me, if .possible, when the regular running of the Bluff-Melbourne weekly steamer-service is likely to- be resumed. Owing to the suspension of the service this Department has now to pay for the transit from Sydney to Melbourne or Adelaide of certain parcel-mails formerly sent from Bluff to Melbourne, but now required to be sent from Auckland or Wellington to Sydney. I have, &c, F. V. Waters, Assistant Secretary. The General -Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 96. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Assistant Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam. Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir, — Dunedin, 30th December, 1914. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th December in regard to the Bluff-Melbourne steamer-service. In reply, I beg to state that the present service was decided upon after discussion with the deputation from the Dunedin and Invercargill Chambers of Commerce, and is understood to be giving complete satisfaction to shippers and consignees. Apart from the falling-off in trade due to depression caused by the war the passenger and cargo business between the southern ports of New Zealand and Australia has for some years past been a diminishing quantity, -and, for a month or two in the height of the passenger season, the weekly service has been carried out at a considerable loss. We are keeping the position closely under review, and in the event of circumstances warranting a more frequent running than at present obtaining the matter will have our prompt attention, but it is unlikely that conditions will justify a return to the previous weekly service. I have, <fee, D. A. Aikion, General Manager. The Assistant Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

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