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Enclosure 9 in No. 171. The Manages, Australasian Steam Navigation Company, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal. Sic, — Australasian Steam Navigation Company, Sydney, 2nd June, 1876. I am instructed to invite your attention to my letter of the 17th February, respecting this Company's claim of £5,000 for loss sustained by them on account of the overlapping of the San Francisco mail contract, to which I have not had the favour of a reply. I am to express a hope that the Government will be pleased to make provision on the supplementary estimates of this year for the amount due to the Company. I have, &c, F. Phillips, Secretary, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. pro Manager.

Enclosure 10 in No. 171. The Managee, Australasian Steam Navigation Company, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal. (Extract.) 31st July, 1876. . . . I take the opportunity of reminding you of our claim of £5,000 for overlapping the an Francisco contract, and trust a speedy settlement of same will be arrived at.

Enclosure 11 in No. 171. The Managee, Australasian Steam Navigation Company, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal. Sic, — Australasian Steam Navigation Company, Sydney, 19th October, 1876. I have the honor of addressing you in support of the claim made for losses sustained through the opposition of the permanent Pacific mail boats when this Company was running the temporary service, under contract with the Government, between Sydney, New Zealand, and San Francisco. As one illustration, I beg respectfully to state that the gross earnings of one of our boats, the " Mikado," on number four voyage, were £17,246 15s. 4d.; that when the same boat on the following voyage was opposed by the permauent mail service boats, the gross earnings were but £10,605 18s. 6d, thus exhibiting the heavy decrease of £6.640 16s. lOd. With the belief that the Company's claim would meet with early and favourable settlement, the sum of £5,000 only was asked. I have, &c, F. Phillips, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. pro Manager.

Enclosure 12 in No. 171. The Manages, Australasian Steam Navigation Company, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal. Sic, — Australasian Steam Navigation Company, Sydney, 16th November, 1876. Referring to the claim preferred by this Company for the overlapping of the temporary mail service between this colony and San Francisco by the boats of the permanent Contractors, and to the interview granted to our Director, Mr. Cadell, whereat you were pleased to offer the sum of five hundred pounds (£500), such sum, if accepted, to be in full settlement of this Company's claim, I have now the honor to point out that whilst the sum named is not a very substantial recognition of the claim, still, taking into consideration the friendly relations that have ever characterized the transactions of this Company with the Government and yourself, and with the hope that the Company will continue to meet favourable treatment at your hands (prepared as it is to meet all emergencies), I have the pleasure to state that I am directed to accept your offer. I have, &c, F. H. Teouton, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Manager.

Enclosure 13 in No. 171. Minute of the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal. Steps can be taken for paying the Australasian Steam Navigation Company £500 by way of compromise in settlement of their claim of £5,000 on the Governments of !New South Wales and NewZealand for the losses sustained by the Company in consequence of the boats of the Pacific Mail Company running from San Francisco to Sydney in the months of November and December, 1875, in competition with the boats of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, the former then being under contract to the Governments. Bth February, 1877. J. F. B.

No. 172. Mr. Geay to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Sydney. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, 6th April, 1877. I am directed by the Hon. the Postmaster-General to forward herewith a draft for the sum of £250 on the Bank of New Zealand, Sydney, being a moiety of the sum of £500 paid by your B—P. 4. J