9

F.—4a,

balance due to this colony on account of postages received upon mail matter despatched via San Francisco, on behalf of the non-contracting colonies, for the year ended 31st December, 1876, as per statement of accounts forwarded from the General Post Office, Sydney. I have, &c, W. Geay, The Under Secretary, Treasury, Sydney. Secretary.

No. 12. Mr. Geay to the Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington^ 17th July, 1877. I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 13th ultimo, in reply to mine of the 7th ultimo, enclosing a statement of account between the two colonies for the year ended 31st December last, showing a balance of £1,489 14s. Id. to be due to this colony on correspondence received and despatched via San Francisco, by the non-contracting colonies, for the period in question, and intimating that the Treasury had been requested to forward a draft for the amount to this Government. The remittance, which was despatched from the Treasury under cover of a letter bearing date the 29th ultimo, only reached Wellington on the 9th instant, too late to be included in the accounts for the past financial year. I have, &c, W. Gray, The Secretary, General Post Office, Sydney. Secretary.

No. 13. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 10th May, 1877. In continuation of my letter of the 2nd instant, on the subject of the suit against Messrs. Cunningham and De Bussche, I have the honor to enclose, for the information of the Government, copies of a telegram received by Messrs. Mackrell on the Bth instant, and of their reply despatched on the following day, after conference with the Agent-General of New South Wales and myself. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Agent-General.

No 2,

Enclosure in No. 13. Mr. Fostee, New York, to Messrs. Mackrell, London. (Telegram.) Tuesday. Cunningham will pay forthwith if de Bussehe also released. (Telegram.) Messrs. Mackeell, London, to Mr. Fosteb, New York. De Bussche discharged, except certain composition payable by instalments. Will hand over future dividends to Cunningham, retaining for expenses two hundred and eight pounds received.

No. 14. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Postmaster-Geneeai, "Wellington. Sib,— 7, "Westminster Chambers, "Westminster, S.W., 29th May, 1877. In continuation of my letter of the 10th May, on the subject of the suit against Messrs. Cunningham and De Bussche, I have the honor to enclose, for the information of the Government, copies of further correspondence and telegrams connected with the settlement of the case. Mr. Forster and 1 have jointly had two or three interviews with Mr. Mackrell on the subject. I haye, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 14. Messrs. Mackrell and Co. to the Hon. Sir J. Vogel. 21, Cannon Street, London, 11th May, 1877. Dear Sir Julius, — Old Postal Contracts. We have to-day received from our agents in New York the following telegram: — " Cable amount paid by De Bussche, and unpaid instalments." To which we have replied as follows : — "De Bussche's debt 120,000, including 50,000 on bonds; composition, 7,500; 1,250 only paid; expect little more. Costs reduced first division." "We have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. John Mackeell and Co. 2—E. 4a.