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80

PAYMENT OF SUBSIDY. No. 271. The Geneeal Managee, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited). Christchurch, Sic,— 2nd August, 1898. I have the honour to hand you herewith statement showing amount of subsidy due to the Canadian-Australian line to date, and shall feel obliged if you will pass the voucher, and forward a cheque ... in settlement of same. I have, &c, Isaac Gibbs, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. General Manager for Colonies.

No. 272. The Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Geneeal Manages for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch. Sib, — General Post Office, Wellington, Bth August, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, forwarding a claim ... in respect of the subsidy for the conveyance of New Zealand mails between Wellington and Vancouver by steamers of the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company. In reply, I beg to remind you that, as the " Miowera," which, according to time-table, should have sailed from Wellington on the 26th May last, did not leave until the 28th idem, two days afterwards, a penalty of £100 for the first day, and £20 for the second, was thereby incurred. A voucher will therefore be prepared for the amount claimed, less the penalty in question. I have, &c, The General Manager for the Colonies, W. Geay, Secretary. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch.

No. 273. The Geneeal Managee for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch, Sic,— 19th August, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the Bth instant, intimating that a penalty of £120 would be enforced against the "Miowera" for late departure from Wellington for Vancouver on the 28th May last. The detention of that steamer at Sydney was owing to a defect in her machinery, which was not discovered until too late to repair it and despatch the steamer on time-table date, and under the circumstances we respectfully ask you to kindly obtain the permission of the Hon. the Post-master-General to remit the penalty referred to. I may say that the Postmaster-General of New South Wales has not enforced any penalties against the Canadian-Australian R.M.S. Company; and for your information I beg to hand you copy of letter of Bth instant, addressed by the Deputy Postmaster-General of that colony to Messrs. Burns, Philp, and Co., Sydney, waiving the penalty incurred in connection with the voyage of the s.s. " Aorangi" in December last. We trust the Hon. the Postmaster-General for New Zealand will, upon further consideration, also agree to waive all penalties which have been incurred in connection with the Vancouver mailservice. With reference to the departure of the s.s. " Warrimoo " from Vancouver on the 30th ultimo, two days late, we are advised that the detention was caused through the late arrival of the mails at that port from England. I have, &c, Isaac Gibbs, General Manager. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

Enclosure in No. 273. The Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney, to Messrs. Buens, Philp, and Co., Sydney. Postal and Electric Telegraph. Department, General Post Office, Gentlemen, — Sydney, Bth August, 1898. Referring to your communication of the 28th ultimo, regarding the penalty incurred in connection with the voyage made by the s.s. " Aorangi " in December last, I am directed to inform you that, the matter having received further consideration, the Postmaster-General has decided to waive the payment by you of such penalty. * I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, Deputy Postmaster-General. Messrs. Burns, Philp, and Co. (Limited), Sydney.