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No. 53. The Seceetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Hendeeson and Macfaelane Auckland. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 16th March, 1904. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth instant, claiming £110 demurrage of the R.M.S. " Ventura" at San Francisco on the 12th-13th ultimo. A voucher in your favour has been prepared for the amount. I have, &c, Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. W. Geay, Secretary. [Payment deferred at request of Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane of 21st March.]

No. 54. Messrs. Hendeeson and Macfaelane, Auckland, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company (American and Australian Line), SIX _ Auckland, 12th April, 1904. We have the honour to refer you to our letter of the 21st March [not printed], dealing with claim for demurrage in favour of the "Ventura," delayed at San Francisco from the 11th to 13th February last; and in accordance with instructions received from our head office we now respectfully ask you to arrange payment. We remain, &c, Hendeeson and Macfaelane, General Agents for New Zealand. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

No. 55. The Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to Messrs. Hendeeson and Macfaelane, Auckland. Gentlemen, General Post Office, Wellington, 19th April, 1904. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, requesting payment of your claim for £110 on behalf of Messrs. the J. D. Spreckels and Bros. Company for demurrage in respect of the detention of the R.M.S. "Ventura " on the 12th-13th February last; and, in reply, to inform you that instructions have been issued to the Chief Postmaster, Auckland, to pay you the amount on application. I would remind you that in January, 1903, the " Ventura" was fifty-one hours over contract time in reaching San Francisco from Auckland. The vessel left Auckland at 2.39 p.m. on the 2nd January, and received the pilot at Golden Gate at 10.14 a.m. on the 19th, the actual duration of the voyage being slightly over 447 hours, which at the rate of £4 an hour for fifty-one hours in excess of the 396 hours stipulated in clause 11 of the contract entered into on the 30th June, 1902, brings the amount recoverable under clause 13 to £204. I have, &c, Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland. W. Geay, Secretary.

No. 56. Messrs. Hendeeson and Macfaelane, Auckland, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Oceanic Steamship Company (American and Australian Line), Sib,— Auckland, 25th April, 1904. We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, advising that instructions have been issued to the Chief Postmaster, Auckland, to pay our demurrage claim on account of detention of the " Ventura " at San Francisco on the 12th-13th February last. Your remarks respecting the trip of "Ventura" in January, 1903, are being passed on to the president of the company, who will no doubt advise us how to act. We have, &c, Hendeeson and Macfaelane, General Agents for New Zealand. The Secretary, General Post Office, 3 Wellington.