THE MAILS BY THE MACGREGOR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4209, 16 September 1874, Page 2

THE MAILS BY THE MACGREGOR.

The s.s. Macgregor, with the mails from San Francisco, arrived at Auckland yesterday morning at an early hour. She sailed from the Golden Gate on the 18th ultimo, or three days Into—Hie mails having been again sent via Boston, which is always a comparatively slow route. Allowing for this detention, the Macgregor has lost one day in crossing the Pacific. It was anticipated that she would come direct from Honolulu to Auckland, but she has, instead, made the usual course to Kahdavau, and finding no steamer waiting there has come on to New Zealand. Tho time lost appears to have been on the early part of the passage, the vessel being late at Honolulu, and later still at Kandavau. The Macgregor’s mail appears to be a largo one, both for New Zealand and New South Wales. The difficulties under which the service is now being carried out appear to have been marked unpleasantly at Auckland. Captain Grainger, it seems, probably bethinking himself of former loss when. he served the same contractor on the same line, and of the necessity of looking after the wages of his crew, declined to deliver the mails until the subsidy for the voyage was paid. Fortunately Mr. Vogel was in Auckland when the Macgregor arrived. It will not bo forgotten that he stated in Parliament, in view of the contingency of tho mail steamer being detained in San Francisco by bailiffs, that if the mails were placed on board the agents of the two Colonies interested -would see that the vessel was despatched. Tho amount claimed by Captain Grainger, it is stated, was £llOO, and in tjio' course of the forenoon it w'as arranged that the money should bo paid, so that the mails might be delivered. In the meantime the Auckland Steam Packet Company had served a writ upon the captain, in an action for £267 or more, for services to the Macgregor when she was on the reef in ICandavau harbor. The Customs authorities of Auckland had also prohibited tho placing of coals on board ■ tho ship. Fortunately all those difficulties wore arranged. The mails wore delivered; those for Wellington and tho South were forwarded by tho Luna, which loft Ouehunga yesterday for Taranaki and Wellington direct, and may be expected hero on Thursday afternoon. The Murray would take the mails for Nelson and tho West Coast, although sho has not been announced as having sailed. It is possible the Luna may reach Port Nicholson in time to enable her to place the mails for tho South on board the Phoebe, which will be due from Nelson and Picton this afternoon or to-morrow morning. Under any circumstances, tho mails will be received in all parts of the Colony in good

time to enable merchants and others to answer their letters by the Suez mail, which will he despatched from Wellington on Sunday, the 27th instant. The Macgregor was expected to sail from Auckland this morning, the Premier and Mr. Eusaell taking passage by her to Sydney. Since these particulars were written, we learn that at noon yesterday the captain of the Macgregor was summoned under the 29th section of the Post Office Act, for his nondelivery of the mails. His excuse was that he had instructions from Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., to refuse to land the mail until the subsidy for its conveyance was paid. On both sides the question was placed in the hands of lawyers, and, after an adjournment, an arrangement was come to, the captain finding that he was in the wrong, and the Postmaster-General enforcing what was his right. The following telegrams received throughout tho ? day, though without any statement of the hours at which they were despatched, partially, though not accurately, explain the course of proceedings;— Auckland, Tuesday. The mails are not yet landed, the captain refusing to give them until the subsidy be paid. The mail dispute is still unsettled. Negotiations are proceeding, but the postal authorities are not expected to receive the mails for two or three hom-s. The Customs authorities have ordered that no coals are to be put on board the Macgregor pending a settlement. The A. S. P. Company have served a writ on the steamer for £267, for services rendered by the Star of the South while the Macgregor was on the reef at Kandavau. The A.S.P. Company’s claim of £267 against the s.b. Macgregor is in the hands of Mr. Whitaker, the captain refusing to recognise it. He threatens to detain the vessel unless an amicable arrangement is made before midnight, the'advertised hour of sailing. The delivery of the mails by the Captain of the Macgregor was unconditional, Mr. Vogel refusing to negotiate as to the terms of payment pending their delivery. The Captain of the s.s. Macgregor was summoned to the Police Court for a breach of the 29th section of the Post-office Regulations, by refusing to deliver certain mails in his possession, on demand being made by the Postmaster. Mr. McCormick, for the defendant, said that the defendant was certainly entitled to some remuneration for bringing the mails, but an endeavor would be made to settle the case amicably by consulting Mr. Vogel. The Court was adjourned till half-past one, to allow time for*a settlement. The charges against the Captain of the Macgregor have been withdrawn. The counsel for the defendant stated that Captain Grainger had been instructed to act as he had done, by the owners of the vessel. He did not know that he was breaking the law, but he was now satisfied that he had been unwarranted in the course ho had taken, and he would give up the mails immediately. 8 p.m. The A.S.P. Company’s claim against the s.s. Macgregor has just been settled. She leaves at midnight.