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No. 16. , The Agent, Australian Mail Line, Auckland, to the Chief Postmaster, Auckland. Auckland, 21st May, 1908. g IR Australian Mail Line. We enclose herewith copy of a letter received by us from the Oceanic Steamship Company of San Francisco relating to mail-moneys apparently due on mails carried from New Caledonia. " We shall be pleased if you can give us any information whether this money has been paid or is still to be collected. Asking for an early reply, I have, &c, (For J. C. Spedding, Agent), The Chief Postmaster, Auckland. L. Beedey. [S.F. Payts. 08/31.]

Enclosure in No. 16. The J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company, San Francisco, to Mr. J. C. Spedding, Auckland. Sir,— San Francisco, 23rd April, 1908. We have before us your esteemed favour of the 21st January, 1908, with reference to correspondence in regard to the mails from New Caledonia, and enclosing a copy of letter received from the Secretary of the Post Office, Dominion of New Zealand, dated 17th September, 1902 [No. 44, F.-6, 1903], in which we note " the Caledonia Post Office would also make payment to your company direct for the carriage of these mails." We regret the necessity which again compels us to take up the question with you, as it does not quite dispose of the matter, and respectfully refer you to our letter of the sth November, 1907, and our statement that we have never received remuneration for this service since the Ist January, 1901, unless the weights have been included in the settlements by the New Zealand Government—all mails from New Zealand having been paid on the poundage basis during the period from the Ist January, 1901, up to the close of the service. It would appear in reading the letter from the Secretary of the Post Office that the weight of the New Caledonia mails was not included in the settlements by the New Zealand Government, and in order that we may clear up our records, we would thank you to kindly take up the matter with the proper official in New Caledonia, so that we may definitely dispose of this account. The amount involved is perhaps a trifling one ; but we would like very much to definitely dispose of the matter. Thanking you in advance for your kind attention|to this|request. Wejjhave, &c, J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company. Mr. J. C. Spedding, Auckland. [S.F. Payts. 08/30.]

No. 17. {[News Extract, 25th May, 1908.] Subsidised Mails. (Telegram.) New York, 22nd May. A conference of the two Houses at Washington, relating to the Post Office subsidy, accepted the Senate's amendment providing for a subsidy to carry mails to Japan, China, Australia (? Australasia), South America, and the Philippines, vessels of the second-class to be paid at the same rate as those of the first-class. (Telegram.) New York, 23rd May. The United States House of Representatives rejected the mail-subsidy as agreed on by the Conference. [S.F. Mis. 08/48.]

No. 18. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to Mr. J. C. Spedding, Auckland. Sir— General Post Office, Wellington, 12th June, 1908. I have the honour to refer to your letterjjjof the 21st ultimo, covering copy of one from the Oceanic Steamship Company, with respect to payment for thejcarriage of mailsjfrom New Caledonia by the San Francisco steamers. As explained in my letter to you of the 31st December last [No. 9], which covered copies of letters of 17th September [No. 44, F.--6, 1903] and 18th November, 1902 [No. 60, F.-6, 1903], from this office to Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, Auckland, this Department is not concerned, as the matter of the payment is one for direct settlement between the Oceanic Steamship Company and the New Caledonia Post Office. It is suggested that you place yourself in communication with the Director of Posts, Noumea. . I have, &c, J. C. Spedding, Esq., Post Office Box 462, Auckland. D. Robertson, Secretary. [S.F. I'ayts. 08/34.J