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No. 78. Mr. Geay to Messrs. Gilcheist, Watt, and Co. Gentlemen,— General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd February, 1877. I beg to forward you herewith a statement of the amounts passed to your credit at the Bank of New Zealand, AVellington, by the Government of this colony, on account of the San Francisco Mail Contract, since the date of my last statement, 17th January, up to the present time. I have, &c, W. Geay, Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., Sydney. Secretary.

Enclosure in No. 78. STATEMENT showing the several Amounts passed to the Credit of Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., Sydney, at the Bank of New Zealand, Wellington, by the Government of New Zealand, from the 1st January to 15th February, 1877, on account of the Pacific Mail Company.

No. 79. Messrs. Gilcheist, Watt, and Co. to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Sic,— Sydney, 9th March, 1877. We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 22nd February, enclosing statement of amounts passed to our credit with Bank of New Zealand, and to state that the sums therein mentioned, amounting to £7,854 4s. Bd., have been duly credited by Bank. AYe have, &c, Gilcheist, Watt, and Co., General Agents for the Contractors, San Francisco Mail Service. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

No. 80. Messrs. Gilcheist, Watt, and Co. to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Sic,— Sydney, 9th March, 1877. We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 22nd February, acceding to our request that we should be informed by telegram of the particulars of lodgments as made, and intimating that the cost of such telegrams must of necessity be borne by you. In thanking you for your compliance with our request, we wish to say that we are unwilling to put the department to this expense, and as our object is only to be in possession of these particulars at the time the money is credited by the Bank here, we shall be equally convenienced by your sending us written statements on the day of each lodgment (such as are now sent monthly), and you will thus be spared any expense in the matter. We trust that this course may meet with your approval. We have, &c, Gilcheist, Watt, and Co., General Agents for the Contractors, San Francisco Mail Service. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

Date. Service. Amount. Total. January 8 £ 8. d. £ s. d. „ 19 February 15 » ii ii n To service performed by s.s. " City of New York," from Port Chalmers to San Francisco, from 15th November to 12th December, 1876 To service performed by s.s. " Zealandia," from Port Chalmers to San Francisco, from 13th December, 1876, to 9th January, 1877 To service performed by s.s. " Australia," and " Taupo," from San Francisco to Port Chalmers, from 7th December, 1876, to 4th January, 1877 To bonus, 72 hours at £5 per hour To bonus earned by s.s." Australia " for delivering New Zealand mails at San Francisco on 15th November, 1876, 45 hours under contract time, at £5 per hour To service performed by s.s. " City of New York " and " Rotorua," from San Francisco to Port Chalmers, from 4th January to 3rd February, 1877 ... ... To bonus, 22 hours at £5 per hour To bonus earned by s.s. " City of New York," for delivering New Zealand mails at San Francisco on the 12th December, 1876, 48 hours under contract time, at £5 per hour ... 1,729 16 2 360 0 0 225 0 0 1,729 16 2 1,729 16 2 ii ii 1,729 16 2 110 0 0 It 11 it It 240 0 0 4,394 12 4 £7,854 4 8 W. G: Secretary. General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd February, 1877.