F.—6

No. 274. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Geneeal Manages for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 25th August, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, asking that the penalty of £120 imposed for the "Miowera's " late departure from Wellington for Vancouver on the 28th .May last might be waived. In reply, I have to inform you that the request will be considered. I have, &c, The General Manager for the Colonies, W. Geay, Secretary. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch.

No. 275. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, 25th August, 1898. i ,T I have the honour to inform you that a request has been received from the general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company in this colony that the penalty enforced for the " Miowera's " late departure from Wellington for Vancouver on the 28th May last might be waived,; on the ground that the detention at Sydney with consequent late departure hence was due to a defect in the vessel's machinery, which was not discovered until too late to repair to enable the steamer to leave on schedule date. I shall be glad if you will inform me what your department purposes doing in respect of the delay on the occasion in question, and whether penalties for late departures of the Vancouver steamers have been or are to be enforced. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 276. The Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Postal and Electric Telegraph Department, General Post Office, Sic, — Sydney, sth September, 1898. ■ ■ Referring to your communication of the 25th ultimo, inquiring what this department purposes doing respecting the delay in departure of the s.s. "Miowera" on the voyage commenced here in May last, and whether penalties for late departures of the Vancouver steamers have been or are to be enforced, I have the honour to explain that this office does not impose a penalty for late departure from Sydney. When one of the steamers in question starts late the contractor furnishes an explanation of the cause of the delay. In view of the pioneer character of the line, more attention is paid to the time occupied in performance of the voyages to and from Sydney and Vancouver than to unavoidable delay in starting, as it is upon this time that payment of subsidy is adjusted. It is presumed that, under its contract with the Canadian Government, the company is also liable to a penalty for late arrival of its steamers at Vancouver. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, Deputy Postmaster-General. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 277. The Geneeal Managee for the Colonies, New Zealand Shipping Company, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), Christchurch, Sic,— 12th September, 1898. I have the honour to inform you that in a letter dated London 30th July the official liquidator of the Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Steamship Company (Limited) advises us that the Canadian Government have now paid the subsidy due ... in full, without deducting penalties. In view of the fact that both the Canadian and New South Wales Governments have paid their subsidies in full, I have the honour to respectfully ask your reconsideration of the question of penalties, and I trust, under the circumstances, you will see your way to remit the penalties which have been deducted from the amount of subsidy paid by you to the Canadian Royal Mail Steamship Company. I have, &c, Isaac Gibbs, General Manager. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

No. 278. The Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 15th September, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the sth instant, in reference to the late departure of mail-steamers for Vancouver, and note your remarks on the subject of enforcing penalties therefor. I have, &c, The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney. - W, Geay, Secretary,

11— F. 6.

81