7

F.—4a

No. 6. Mr. Geat to Messrs. Gilcheist, Watt, and Co., Sydney. Gentlemen,— General Post Office, Wellington, 18th July, 1877. _ I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 25th ultimo, enclosing copy of a document signed under seal, conveying the assent of the sureties for the Contractors for the San Francisco Mail Service to the deviation from the original contract. I have, &c, W. Geay, Messrs. Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., Sydney. Secretary.

No. 7. Copy of Despatch from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G. Mt Lord,— Downing Street, 3rd May, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 9th of March, enclosing a memorandum, signed by Major Atkinson, on behalf of your Ministers, with reference to my despatch of the 20th of September last, on the subject of tho Pacific Mail Service. I have received with satisfaction the assurance conveyed in the memorandum that the Government of New Zealand would be anxious to assist in maintaining mail communication with Fiji by means of a subsidized service to connect at Auckland with the San Francisco steamers. I have, &c, Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c. Cabnabyon.

1877. F. 4. Mos. 94 and 95.

No. 8. Mr. Geat to the Seceetaet, General Post Office, Sydney. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 7th May, 1877. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to request that the share due to this colony, on account of correspondence received and despatched by the San Francisco Mail Service on account of non-contracting colonies, may be remitted in time to be included in the accounts of this department for the financial year ending the 30th June next. I have, &c, W. Geay, The Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney. Secretary.

No. 9. Mr. Lambton to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, "Wellington. g IE Sydney, 13th June, 1877. With reference to your letter, dated the 7th ultimo, requesting that the amount due to your colony, on account of correspondence received and despatched by the San Francisco Mail Service by the non-contracting colonies, may be remitted to you in time to be included in the accounts of your department for the financial year ending the 30th instant, I am directed to inform you that a statement of account between the two colonies, showing a balance of £1,489 14s. Id. due to NewZealand to the 31st December, 1876, has been duly forwarded to the Treasury, with a request that the balance may be remitted as you desire. I am to add that nothing has yet been received by this department from the other colonies on account of March quarter, 1877, and to enclose a copy of statement referred to. I have, &c, S. H. Lambton, The Secretary, General Post Office, "Wellington. Secretary. Enclosure in No. 9. Statement of Account. —The Government of New Zealand in account with the Government of New South Wales. Ck. £ s. d. £ s. d. By one-half collection on correspondence conveyed by San Francisco mail steamers, on account of non-contracting colonies, 1874, to 31st December, 1876, as per statement 4,419 1 2 De. June 1875.—T0 remittance ... ... ... ... ... 1,346 0 0 July 1876.—T0 ditto ... ... ... ... ... 1,483 12 7 To costs, counsel's fees, cablegrams, demurrage, &c, as per statement ... ... ... ... ... 99 14 6 2,929 7 1 Balance due to New Zealand... ... £1,489 14 1 E. & 0. E. N. Nightingale, General Post Office, Sydney, Bth June, 1877. Accountant.