P.—4,

54

There seems, however, reasonable ground for believing that during the active season of business now coming on, a weekly departure on Thursday may be relied upon, and the Inman Company have promised to do all in their power to maintain a sailing on the particular Thursday when the Australian mails should in due course be despatched from London ; but beyond this no assurance can be given. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. W. J. Page.

No. 171. Mr. Lambton to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sic,— Sydney, 19th February, 1877. I am directed to enclose, for the information of the Hon. the Postmaster-General of New Zealand, copies of correspondence, &c, which has passed between this department and the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, in relation to a claim of the latter for the sum of five thousand pounds (£5,000), as against the Government of this colony, acting with that of New Zealand, for loss said to have been sustained in consequence of the boats of the Contractors for the permanent mail service via San Francisco, which were despatched from that place for Sydney in November and December, 1875, competing with those of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, then performing the temporary contract. I am to state that, as shown in the papers, the claim in question has been compromised by the Company's acceptance of a sum of five hundred pounds (£500) in full of all demands, and that the matter having been discussed between the Hon G. McLean and the Postmaster-General, in connection with the visit for the purpose of the recent Intercolonial Conference, it has been arranged that the charge shall be borne in equal proportions by New South AVales and New Zealand. A copy of the voucher rendered by the Company is forwarded herewith, and this department will be obliged by a remittance of a moiety of the amount, two hundred and fifty pounds (£250), as early as convenient. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Secretary.

Enclosure 1 in No. 171. The Assistant Manager, Australasian Steam Navigation Company, to the Hon. the PostmasteeGeneeal, Sydney. Sic, — Australasian Steam Navigation Company, Sydney, 3rd July, 1875. I have the honor to inform you that I duly communicated to the Board yesterday particulars of my interview with the Secretary to the Post Office, at which ho stated you were desirous of knowing whether this Company would be willing to forego the return trip of steamers "Macgregor" and " Mikado " from San Francisco in November and December next. In reply, I am directed to say that as such would be prejudicial to the Company's interest, the Board are not willing to forego the said trips. I have, &c, W. Williams, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. Assistant Manager.

Enclosure 2 in No. 171. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, to the Managee, Australasian Steam Navigation Company. Sic, — General Post Office, Sydney, 7th July, 1875. With reference to your letter of the 3rd instant, in which you state that your Company are not willing to forego the return trips from San Francisco of the steamers " Macgregor" and " Mikado " in November and December next, as to do so would be prejudicial to their interest, I am directed to inquire upon what terms the Company would forego their right to send the " Mikado " on the 23rd October next from Sydney. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, The Manager, Australasian Steam Navigation Company. Secretary.

Enclosure 3 in No. 171. The Seceetaey, Australasian Steam Navigation Company, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office. Sic, — Australasian Steam Navigation Company, Sydney, 7th July, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of this day's date, and beg to say that since the Assistant Manager's interview with you this morning, he has ascertained that the Chairman will not return to town until Friday morning, and in his absence the Directors are unable to take any steps in the matter. Your letter will, however, be considered at the usual sitting on Friday afternoon, and a reply promptly communicated to you thereafter. I have, &c, F. Phillips, Tho Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney. Secretary.