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F.-6A

Enclosure in No. 104. The Manager, Northern Steamship Company, Auckland, to the Chief Postmaster, Auckland. Sir, — Northern Steamship Company (Limited), Auckland, 31st July, 1906. I enclose copy of a letter I have received from the Union Steam Ship Company with reference to our charge for conveyance of the inward San Francisco mail to New Plymouth on the 12th instant. The amount in question is £25, which it has been customary for us to receive from the Union Company for the service stated. Please say if your Department will accept a voucher from us for the amount. Yours, &c, (For the Northern Steamship Company (Limited), C. Ranson, Manager. The Chief Postmaster, Auckland.

Sub-enclosure to Enclosure No. 104. The Branch Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Auckland, to the Manager, Northern Steamship Company, Auckland. Sir, — Union Steam Ship Company (Limited), Auckland, 30th July, 1906. With reference to the carriage of the southern portion of the mail which arrived by the "Ventura " from San Francisco, which service was performed by your company, our head office holds the opinion that you should look to the Government for payment, because had the mail been shipped by our steamer, as it should have been in terms of contract, it would have arrived south as soon as by shipping per " Ngapuhi." Yours, &c, A. B. J. Irvine, Branch Manager. C. Ranson, Esq., Northern Steamship Company (Limited), Auckland.

No. 105. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Chief Postmaster, Auckland. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 15th August, 1906. In re yours of 3/8/06: Union Steam Ship Company, as to claim of Northern Steamship Company for payment for carrying the San Francisco mail from Manukau to New Plymouth on the 12th ultimo: — The Department cannot recognise any claim from the Northern Steamship Company in regard to the service in question. The mail was properly shipped by the first available steamer, and the Department would not have been warranted in holding it until the next day. The arrangement is that if the mails arrive on Tuesday or Thursday they are to be carried by the Northern Steamship Company at the Union Steam Ship Company's expense. Thomas Rose, The Chief Postmaster, Auckland. For Secretary.