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Enclosure in No. 16. Mr. P. H. Jokes to Mr. I. W. Eaymond. (Telegram.) New York, 29th December, 1872. English steamers only in this morning. New Zealand matter by them will leave to-night. P. H. Jones, Postmaster, (Per E. De Forrest, I. W. Eaymond, Agent of Steamers. Superintendent, Eegistry Department).

No. 17. Mr. W. Gbat, jun., to Mr. I. W. Raymond. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 14th March, 1873. I have been directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth of January last, reporting that the New Zealand mails would again leave San Francisco a week late, owing, as you allege, to delays on the Atlantic, and slight interruptions from snow storms. While regretting the circumstances which appear mainly to have prevented the observance of contract time, I am to draw your attention to a very significant fact in connection with the despa< eh of the mails on the occasion in question. The last portion of the English mails for this Colony reached your city at noon of the 7th of January, and although it was obvious they should have met with prompt despatch (more particularly as there were two months' correspondence in course of transit), it is observed that the " Nebraska " did not take her departure until 9.20 a.m. of the 9th, thereby subjecting the mails to an additional delay of about forty-five hours beyond that already suffered between Great Britain and San Francisco. It is almost needless for me to point out to you how distasteful it is to bring this matter under your notice ; and I cannot but express surprise that you should have concealed the fact of this detention from the Postmaster-General, when informing him of the late arrival of the mails. It has also been reported to this office that the repairs to the "Nebraska" were in such a very backward state, that had. the mails reached San Francisco on the proper day, the "Nebraska" could not have proceeded to sea on the date specified in the time table ; and I have to request that you will furnish this Department with a report on the subject. With regard to the delay particularly referred to in this letter, I am directed to call upon you for a full explanation of the circumstances which led to the " Nebraska " being detained for a period of forty-five hours after the mails had reached San Francisco; and that such explanation be forwarded by return mail. I have, &c, W. Gteay, jun., I. W. Eaymond, Esq., San Francisco. (in the absence of the Secretary).

No. 18. Mr. I. W. Eaymond to the Hon. the Postmastee-Genebal. U.S., N.Z., and A.M.S.S. Co.'s Agency, San Francisco, Sib,— sth February, 1873. The "Moses Taylor" leaves this day with the London mails one week later than schedule time, during all which time she has had her crew on board waiting for the mails. So far as lam informed the mails only arrived and left New York on 25th January. Owing to winter delays they have missed connections, and only arrived last night at San Francisco. In order to lay up and give our steamers needed repairs, I have put on the " Moses Taylor " to make interchange at Honolulu. I have given the " Moses Taylor" extensive repairs, at heavy expense, so that she now rates Al|; and, for your special information, I hand you a certificate from Captain Waterman, who is not only United States Inspector of Hulls,but is surveyor for London Lloyds. I have, &c, I. W. Baymond. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, N.Z.

Enclosure in No. 18. Mr. E. H. Waterman to Mr. Baymond. Office of United States Local Inspectors of Steam Vessels, Sib, — San Francisco, 4th February, 1873. At your request I make report of the condition of the American steam ship " Moses Taylor," Howell, master, burthen from register 1,354 tons. She has just now had the following repairs under my supervision : —Entire new ceiling from apron to stern-post, six inches thick, and through fastened; anew set of lower-deck beams from gallows frame to fore-hatch ; all new knees to lower deck, through fastened; new main-deck waterways, fore and aft. She has twelve new crooks and six pair of pointers reaching from lower deck to the bilge kelsons, re-treenailed from plank sheer to keel, with locust treenails wedged. She is iron cross-braced throughout, with solid floor; her boilers and machinery have been throughly overhauled, and her fire security is good. She has just now been in dry dock, stripped, caulked, and re-metaled, and all under-water openings put in good order. 2—E. 3.