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No. 14. Messrs. Owen and Graham, Auckland, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir,— Auckland, 19th May, 1876. At the instance of the head office of the Pacific Mail Company in Sydney, we again beg respectfully to bring under your notice our position for a refund of the charges which were enforced against the s.s. " Colima" and " Cyphrenes" at the commencement of the contract. We are advised by Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co. that the Government of New South Wales have remitted all their charges against these steamers. Trusting to receive your favourable consideration in the matter, We have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Owen and Graham.

No. 15. Mr. Gray to Messrs. Owen and Graham, Auckland. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd June, 1876. I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo, in which you make further application for a refund of port, harbour, and other dues recovered in respect of the steamers " Colima" and " Cyphrenes;" and I have to inform you, in reply, that the Post-master-General has agreed to refund you .£B2 6s. lid., the balance of the sum of £127 2s. 9d., originally recovered in respect of the " Colima." Particulars of the refund will be obtained from the Collector of Customs. 2. The charges which have been collected in respect of the " Cyphrenes " cannot be repaid, as that steamer was not only refused to be recognized as a vessel under the contract, but the agents of the Contractors were distinctly informed that she would be liable for all port charges. 3. I am to add that the-General Agents in Sydney have been informed, in reply to a communication from them on the subject, of the decision herein conveyed to you. I have, &c, W. Gray, Messrs. Owen and Graham, Auckland. Secretary.

No. 16. Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co., Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir,— Wellington, New Zealand, 27th May, 1876. We are requested by the General Agents of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company again to apply to you for a refund of the following amounts of pilotage, light, and harbour dues, paid by us on the " Cyphrenes," carrying the December mail, viz.: — December 11th, 1875.—Pilotage, light, and harbour dues .. £50 0 0 December 16th, 1875.— do. do. .. 50 0 0 .£lOO 0 0 The 22nd clause of the contract provides that no such charge shall be made in respect of any of the mail steamers, and we are informed that the Sydney Government have made no such charge on any of the steamers. Commending the matter again to your consideration, We have, &c, W. and G. Turnbull and Co., Agents Pacific Mail Steamship Company. The Hon. the Postmaster-General of New Zealand, Wellington.

No. 17. Mr. Gray to Messrs. W. and G. Turn-bull and Co., "Wellington. Gentlemen, — General Post Office, Wellington, 30th June, 1876. I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ultimo, in which you make application for a refund of the sum of £100, paid by you in December last for port, harbour, and other dues in respect of the steamer " Cyphrenes." 2. In reply, I have to state that the charges in question cannot be repaid. The " Cyphrenes " was refused to be recognized as a vessel under the contract by this department, and the agents of the Contractors were distinctly informed that she would be liable for all port charges. I have, &c., Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co., W. Gray, Agents Pacific Mail Steamship Company, Wellington. Secretary.