27

P.—4,

Enclosure 5 in No. 85. United States Consulate, Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, 14th March, 1877. I, T. B. Hassall, United States Vice-Consul at Honolulu, H. 1., do hereby certify that the foregoing are true and genuine copies of the original note of protest, call, warrant, and report of survey and authentication of Consul, on file in this office ; the same having been carefully compared with the originals by me, and found to agree therewith word for word and figure for figure. Given under my hand and official seal the day and year last above named. T. B. Hassall, United States Vice-Consul.

No. 86. Mr. Geay to Messrs. Gilcheist, Watt, and Co. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 28th April, 1877. I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 18th instant, embodying the contents of telegrams exchanged between your firm, as agents for the Contractors for the San Francisco Service, and this department, relative to the amount of subsidy scheduled on account of the last downward trip of the " City of Sydney," and asking for a remission, under the circumstances set forth in your letter, of any penalty that might be due by the Contractors in respect of the voyage in question. lam also to acknowledge the receipt of the various enclosures to your communication above quoted, comprising a copy of the report of survey upon the s.s. "City of Sydney," held at Honolulu by request of Captain Dearborn. I have, &c, W. Geay, Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., Sydney. Secretary.

# No. 87. The Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney, to the Hon. Sir J. Vogel. (Telegram.) Sydney, 20th March, 1876. Beferring to letter eighth instant, Australian Company claim five hundred thirty-three pounds for deviation to Kandavau for " City Melbourne" in December. Please state is charge fair in your judgment ? The Hon. Sir J. Vogel, Wellington. Postmastee-Geneeal.

1876. F. 3, No 98.

No. 88. The Hon. Sir J. Vogel to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 29th March, 1876. Re charge for " City Melbourne" calling at Kandavau. Post Office Secretary reports charge appears excessive compared with cost rest of distance. He suggests that particulars be sent how charge made up. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. Julius Vogel.

No. 89. Mr. Lambton to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sic,— Sydney, 23rd August, 1876. With reference to Sir Julius Vogel's telegram of the 29th March last, I am directed to enclose a copy of a letter from the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, dated the sth April last, on the subject of their claim for payment of £533 for the deviation of the s.s. " City of Melbourne " on her last voyage to San Francisco, and to inform you that the Postmaster-General has now offered the sum of £500 in settlement of the claim in question, and that the same has been accepted by the Company. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Secretary.

Enclosure in No. 89. The Seceetaey, Australasian Steam Navigation Company, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Sydney. Sic, — Australasian Steam Navigation Company, Sydney, sth April, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo, respecting this Company's claim of £533 for deviation of the " City of Melbourne" on her last voyage to San Francisco. The Directors regret to learn that the amount proposed by them should be regarded as excessive. They would be glad to furnish particulars as suggested by the Postmaster-General of New Zealand, but a case of this kind does not admit of a detailed specification of actual outlay, which is made up of loss of time, consumption of coals (bought at a high price), extra cost of insurance, &c, which the Directors conceive would not be covered by a less sum than that named by them.