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Enclosure in No. 48. Mr. Lambton to the Crown Solicitor, Sydney. Sir, — General Post Office, Sydney, 17th November, 1875. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to request that you will have the goodness to take the necessary steps to recover from Mr. H. H. Hall, as one of the Contractors for the San Francisco Mail Service under the temporary contract entered into in London on the 27th November, 1873, the sum of £3,279 9s. Id. overpaid to him by the Government of this colony in connection with the mail service in question. ' The following papers are forwarded herewith : — 1. Original bond and contract for temporary service. 2. A statement showing the particulars of the overpayment. 3. An order given by Mr. Hall on the Government of New Zealand for the sum of £3,000 advanced to meet the cost of repairs to the " Macgregor," which order was returned from New Zealand dishonored. 4. Printed papers on the subject of this mail service: at pages 31 to 39, and 101 to 110, of you will find further particulars of the circumstances connected with the overpayment of the sum referred to. I have, fee.. The Crown Solicitor, Sydney. S. H. Lambton.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 48. Memorandum of Account between Contractors, Hall and Forbes, and the PostmasterGeneral, New South Wales. 1873. Dr. £ s. d. Dec. 31. Australasian Steam Navigation Company, Ist instalment on account of" Governor Blackall " .. .. .. .. 1,500 0 0 1874. Jan. 31. Australasian Steam Navigation Company, 2nd instalment on account of" Governor Blackall." .. .. .. .. 1,500 0 0 Feb. 28. Australasian Steam Navigation Company, on account of " City of Melbourne" .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,000 0 0 May 4. Australasian Steam Navigation Company, charter money for " City of Melbourne" .. .. .. .. .. 2,380 0 0 June 2. Australasian Steam Navigation Company, services performed by steamer "City of Adelaide" .. .. .. .. 1,800 0 0 June 26. H. H. Hall .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,000 0 0 June 29. Australasian Steam Navigation Company, charter money for " City of Adelaide" .. .. .. .. .". .." 1,800 0 0 July 29. Australasian Steam Navigation Company, charter money for " City of Adelaide" .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,607 2 10 £20,587_ 2 10 Note.—The payments to the Australasian Steam Navigation Company were made on Hall's order, and were guaranteed by the Government, the Company having declined to charter the vessels to Hall without such guarantee. Cr. By amount earned as follows : — £ s. d. " Macgregor" arrived at San Francisco 24th January, 1874 .. .. 1,153 16 11 " City of Melbourne" „ 17th February, „ .. .. 1,153 16 11 "Macgregor" „ 10th March, ~ .. .. 1,153 16 11 "Tartar "(for "Mikado") „ 17th March, „ .. .. 1,153 16 11 "City of Melbourne" „ 6th April, „ .. .. 1,153 16 11 "Tartar" „ 13th April, „ .. .. 1,153 16 11 "Mikado" (for "Mongol") „ sth May, „ .. .. 1,153 16 11 "Cyphrenes" (for "Mikado"),, 21st May, „ .. .. 1,153 16 11 "Tartar" „ „ 27th May, „ .. .. 1,153 16 11 "City of Adelaide" (for "Cyphrenes") 13th June, „ .. .. 1,153 16 11 "Mikado" „ „ Ist July, „ .. .. 1,153 16 11 "Tartar" „ „ Bth July, „ .. .. 1,153 16 11 "Cyphrenes" (for "City of Adelaide") 24th July, „ .. .. 1,153 16 11 "Macgregor" „ „ Bth August, „ .. .. 1,153 16 11 "Mikado" „ „ 30th August, „ .. .. 1,153 16 11 Balance against Contractors .. .. .. 3,279 9 1 .£20,587 2 10 W. A. Ring, 17th November, 1875. Acting Accountant.