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No. 12. Mr. D. Mills to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. > Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sic— Dunedin, 21st March, 1890. -1 have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your favour of the 18th instant, enclosing statement of overpayments to the San Francisco mail contractors through your not having deducted your share (one-third of $26,000) of the United States contribution for the. twelve months between November, 1888, and November, 1889. The statement appears to be correct so far as that period is concerned. I would still like to point out to you, however, that the claim of the contractors upon the Governments of New Zealand and New South Wales for a refund of two-thirds of £800 deducted by them during the term of the first contract (November, 1885, to November, 1888) is still outstanding, and the Oceanic Company continue to press us to obtain a settlement of the same. I have, &c, D. Mills The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (For Managing Director).

No. 13. Mr. Geay to the Managing Dieectoe, Union Steamship Company, Dunedin. Sir— General Post Office, Wellington, 27th March, 1890. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant, confirming the statement which I sent you with my letter of the 18th instant, of overpayments about to be reclaimed by this office from the San Francisco mail-service contractors. With reference to the claim which you again urge, for a refund to the contractors by the colonies of two-thirds of £800 per annum contributed to the cost of the original contract service (1885-88) by the United States, I have to inform y6u that the Postmasters-General maintain that the colonies are entitled to share the £800 a year with^the contractors, who therefore haye no claim to a refund. "~-~~__ijiave, &c.,^_^^^^' The Managing Director, Wt^xray, Secretary. Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 14. Mr. Whitson to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sm, — Dunedin, 9th April, 1890. Eeferring again to your favour of the 18th ultimo, forwarding the statement showing the overpayments to the San Francisco mail contractors, and advising your intention of withholding payment of the bonuses and subsidies until the overpayment is wiped off, I shall be much obliged if you will, in the usual way, pass vouchers for the bonuses and subsidies until the amount accrued is sufficient to make the deduction therefrom in one amount. This will place the matter on record. If dealt with in the way you propose in your letter there would be no entry in our Auckland books showing the transaction. I have, &c, F. W, Whitson The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (For Managing Director).

No. 15. Mr. Geay to the Managing Dieeotoe, Union Steamship Company, Dunedin. Spa,— General Post Office, Wellington, 14th April, 1890. In reference to your letter of the 9th instant, on the subject of the deduction of New Zealand's share of the United States contribution of $46,000 from the subsidy-payments, I have to inform you that the adjustment has already been made, and beg to enclose copy of the voucher and statement on which the adjusted payment was made to your Auckland agency. I have, &c, The Managing Director, W. Geay, Secretary. Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 16. The Seceetaey, Post Office, Sydney, to the Seceetaey, Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, Ist July, 1889. Postmastee-Geneeai. intends immediately asking parliamentary approval of one year's extension Frisco service. He would like reply to cablegram of 22nd June (Vide No. 91, F. 4,1889), indicating that your colony will afford substantial assistance either in subsidy or postages.

No. 17. Mr. Geay to the Seceetaey, Post Office, Sydney. (Telegram.) - Wellington, 4th July, 1889. Frisco seevice.—Government considering in wdiat form submit matter to Parliament, and Postmaster-General hopes to be able reply in a day or two,