THE EANAMA MAIL SERVICE.

5

E — No. 2,

No. 4. Mr. G. Eliott Eliott to Mr. H. Lawson. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 6th September, 1569. I am directed to inform you that, by a communication received from the Postmaster-General, New South Wales, dated 9th July last, it appears that the sum of £3,270 16s. Sd. has been paid by the New South Wales Government into the Union Bank, on account of subsidies due to the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Boyal Alail Company. I am also directed to acquaint you that, taking the whole of the circumstances into consideration under which the penalty of £2,625 was inflicted on the Company for the non-despatch of a steamer to Banama in January and February last, it has been decided to repay this amount to the Company, and on receipt of a voucher for the moiety recovered by this Government (£1,312 10s.), it will be approved for payment to the person duly authorized to receive it on behalf of the Company. The PostmasterGeneral, New South Wales, has been informed of this decision, as the other moiety of the fine is payable by that Government. I have, &c, G. Eliott Eliott, H. Lawson, Esq., Wellington. Secretary.

No. 5. Mr. H. Lawson to the Hon. the Postmaster-General. Sir,— Wellington, 17th September, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of letter dated 6th instant, intimating that £3,270 16s. Bd. of Panama subsidy had been paid to account of the Company at the Union Bank of Australia, Sydney, by the New South Wales Government, and that taking the whole of the circumstances into consideration under which the penalty of £2,625 was inflicted in January and February, it has been decided to repay the amount, one moiety at Sydney and one here ; but as there is a liability of the Company to the Union Bank here still open, and which Captain Hall left instructions should be settled here out of the sum available if these penalties were remitted, I beg respectfully to request that, as our Sydney accounts are now closed, if it can be so arranged, the full amount may be paid to the Manager of the Union Bank, Wellington. I would also point out that the above-named £3,270 16s. Bd. is £1,312 10s. less than balance of subsidies due by the Government of New South Wales : this will give £3,937 10s. for repayment. I have, &c., The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. H. Lawson.

No. 6. Mr. G. Eliott Eliott to Mr. H. Lawson. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 4th November, 1869. In reply to your letter of the 17th September, requesting that payment of moneys due to the Panama Company may be made in Wellington, I am directed to inform you that the Government has been advised that Mr. Young, the official liquidator, and no other person, can receive moneys due to the Company. I have, Ac, G. Eliott Eliott, Henry Lawson, Esq., Wellington. Secretary.

No. 7. The Hon. D. Egan to the Hon. the Postmaster-General. Sir, — General Post Office, Sydney, 10th November, 1869. I have the honor to enclose a copy of a letter, and also of a corrected account showing discrepancies in the statement furnished by this office of the amount due by the Tasmanian Government on account of correspondence conveyed via Panama and Wellington ; and as this office is unable to decide whether the account as furnished by this office (which was prepared from information received from your office), or as altered at Hobart Town, is correct, I beg to request that you will favour me with your remarks thereon, and also with regard to the last paragraph of the accompanying letter. I have, &c., Dan. Egan, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, Postmaster-General. New Zealand. 2