55

P.—4,

Enclosure 4 in No. 171. The Managee, Australasian Steam Navigation Company, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office. Sic, — Australasian Steam Navigation Company, Sydney, 14th August, 1875. Referring to your letter of tho 7th July, in which you ask me to name the terms on which the Company would forego their right to send the steamer " Mikado " from Sydney on the 23rd October, and to the interview which took place on the 10th ultimo between tho Postmaster-General and the Chairman, other members of the Board, and myself, I have now the honor to state that the deputation having gleaned from the Postmaster-General that he was not in a position to treat with the Company, but that he would take steps to prevent any clashing with the boats of the permanent and temporary Contractors, and it being understood that the Government would not ask the approval of Parliament to the former contract until satisfactory arrangements had been made with the latter, I have deferred giving you a written reply. I am directed to reiterate the statement verbally conveyed to the Postmaster-General at the interview before referred to —namely, that the C ompany is willing to give up, on reasonable terms of compensation, the last two trips ; and my Directors now desire me to add that so soon as some person is empowered either by the Government or by the permanent Contractors to treat, a sum will be named for the abandonment of the last two months' service. I have, &c, F. H. Teouton, The Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney. Manager. •

Enclosure 5 in No. 171. The Manages, Australasian Steam Navigation Company, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal. Sir, — Australasian Steam Navigation Company, Sydney, 31st August, 1875. With a view to meet the wishes of the Postmaster-General, as made known to me in our interview this forenoon, I am directed to say that if the Postmaster-General be desirous that this Company should give up its contract with the Government for the mail service from Sydney to San Francisco for the months of September and October, and from San Francisco to Sydney for November and December, this Company is willing to do so in consideration of receiving a payment of £5,000, and provided that tho Postmaster-General should arrange with the owners of the " Macgregor " and " Mikado " that they release the Company from their contract as respects these vessels for the period in question. I may bring under your notice that by effecting an arrangement of this kind a very considerable saving will be effected by the Government. I am led to believe that the owners of tho "Macgregor" and " Mikado " are desirous of being relieved of their contract with us as respects these ships for the September and October ships. I have, &c, F. H. Teouton, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. Manager.

Enclosure 6 in No. 171. The Managee, Australasian Steam Navigation Company, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal. Sic, — Australasian Steam Navigation Company, Sydney, 22nd January, 1876. I have the honor to recall your attention to a subject on which some of the Directors of tho Australasian Steam Navigation Company have already had several conversations with you. In consequence of the action of the Government in employing the Pacific Mail Company to despatch that Company's boats from San Francisco to Sydney in the months of November and December, during which months the Australasian Steam Navigation Company were contractors with the Government to carry the mails from that port to Sydney, this Company has suffered a considerable loss in freight and passage money, which the Directors are of opinion ought to be made good to them by the Government; and the loss they have sustained they conceive cannot be less than £5,000. I shall be glad to be favoured with an early settlement of this matter. I have, &c, F. 11. Teouton, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. Manager.

Enclosure 7 in No. 171. The Manager, Australasian Steam Navigation Company, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Genebal. Sic, — Australasian Steam Navigation Company, Sydney, 9th February, 1876. I do myself the honor to beg reference to my letter of the 22nd ultimo, and am directed to ask you to be so good as to favour this Company with an early reply thereto. I have, &c, F. Phillips, Secretary, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. pro Manager.