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Enclosure in No. 74. STATEMENT showing the Service Amounts passed to the Credit of Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., Sydney, at the Bank of New Zealand, Wellington, by the Government of New Zealand, during the month of December, 1876, on account of the Pacific Mail Company.

No. 75. Messrs. Gilcheist, Watt, and Co. to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, AVellington. Sib,— Sydney, Bth February, 1877. We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 17th January, enclosing schedule of payments for the month of December, 1876, and to state that the sums therein mentioned have been duly credited to us by the Bank of New Zealand. We have, Ac, Gilcheist, Watt, and Co., General Agents for the Contractors, San Francisco Mail Service. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

No. 76. Messrs. Gilcheist, Watt, and Co. to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Sic,— Sydney, 12th February, 1877. As the delay in receipt of advices with particulars of payments (made by your department to our credit on account of mail service) is the cause of very great inconvenience to us, and retards the closing of each ship's accounts, we have the honor to request that you will cause to be sent to us by telegraph particulars of each payment (as made) to our credit; stating the steamer on whose account it is, and also whether voyage in or voyage out. The above telegrams to bo at our expense, and " charged on delivery." We have, &c, Gilcheist, Watt, and Co., General Agents for the Contractors, San Francisco Mail Service. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

No. 77. Mr. Geay to Messrs. Gilcheist, Watt, and Co. Gentlemen, —■ General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd February, 1877. I am directed by the Hon. the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 12th instant, intimating that the delay in receipt of advices of the payments made by this department to your credit on account of the San Francisco Mail Service is the cause of great inconvenience, and requesting that you may be advised by telegram of the particulars of each payment as made. In reply, I am to inform you that your request will be complied with, but the telegrams must necessarily be sent at the expense of this department, as all telegrams passing over the cable must be prepaid, there being no arrangement for " collect messages." I have, &c, W. Geay, Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., Sydney. Secretary.

Date. Service. Amount. Total. December 13 To service performed by steamers " City of Sydney " and " Zealandia," from San Francisco to Port Chalmers, from 8th November to 7th December, 1876 To bonus, 41 hours at £5 per hour £ s. d. £ s. d. j) » 1,729 16 2 205 0 0 1,934 16 2 „ 28 To bonus earned by 6teamer " City of Sydney," for delivering outward mails at Sau Francisco on 18th October, 1876, 37 hours under contract time, at £5 per hour ... 185 0 0 £2,119 16 2 Gener: il Post Office, Wellington, 17th January, 1877. '. Geay.