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1. If the Government are willing to remunerate me by commission, I shall not require or expect any salary, part commission, or expenses allowance, except for my interpreter, whose pay and allowance should be those submitted for your approval to-day. 2. I will accept as commission on all leases one penny halfpenny (1-J-d.) per acre, and on purchase threepence (3d.) per acre in full payment for my individual services. Should these proportions be considered reasonable, I would of course expect that the fullest facilities should be given to me for carrying on and completing negotiations as to the supply of funds and other matters, so long as my operations are carried on in a manner satisfactory to the Hon. the Native Minister. "Wellington, 15th August, 1874. E. T. Beissenden.

No. 58. Mr. Bhissenden to the Hon. the Natiye Minister. Sir.— "Wellington, 29th September, 1874. I beg to draw your attention to the proposal of mine to you, that I should receive a commission instead of working for the Government for a salary. I have again to ask you to consider the proposal, for under the present system I am losing both time and money, so that I cannot in justice to myself continue under the present arrangement. I shall therefore be obliged if you will advise me of your decision. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister. E. T. Bkissenden.

No. 59. Mr. 11. T. Clarke to Lieut.-Colonel St. John. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, "Wellington, 28th October, 1874. No. 140. Be Brissenden's communication, quite agree with you! that some definite understanding should be come to, the sooner the better. Will you see Hon. Native Minister about it, and recommend the offer of twopence commission be made. Of course Brissenden must report every block he proposes to acquire, and the price per acre, before any money is paid to Natives ; good title must be established before any commission is paid. In fact the same instructions given Mackay should apply to him. H. T. Clarke, U. S.

No. 60. Lieut.-Colonel St. Johx to Mr. Brissenden. Sir,— Napier, 30th October, 1574. "With reference to a proposal of yours that instead of a salary you should receive a commission on lands purchased by you, I have now the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, to make you the following offer : — 1. That for every acre of Native land in the North purchased by you, and to which the Government has obtained a clear and undisputed title through you, you should receive the sum of twopence. 2. The amounts which you have already received or which are still due to you as salary, &c, to be considered as part of the total commission to which you will be entitled on the conclusion of your transactions. Should you agree to the above proposals it will be necessary you should not enter into negotiations for blocks of land or make advances upon them without having first reported upon them, stating their quality and price, and obtained the approval of the Government to the purchase. I have, &c, E. T. Brissenden, Esq., Auckland. J. H. H. St. John.

No. 61. Mr. Brissenden to Lieut.-Colonel St. John. Sir,— . Auckland, 30th December, 1874. I had the honor to receive a communication from you dated. Napier, 30th October, 1874, making me an offer, on behalf of the Hon. the Native Minister, of a commission of twopence (2d.) per acre on all lands purchased by me for the Government. I beg leave to state that I accej)t the commission and the conditions therein mentioned. I did not receive this letter until my return to Auckland, December 12. Eor a few days I delayed replying to it, in hopes of having a private interview on this subject previous to my doing so. I have, &c, Colonel J. H. H. St. John, Auckland. E. T. Brissenden.

No. 62. Mr. Brissenden to Lieut.-Colonel St. John. Sic, — Auckland, 21st January, 1875. On bringing the accompanying letter into town, I found that you had left for Wellington; therefore delayed the delivery until your return. A few days after your departure Sir Donald McLean made some remarks about his dislike to the system of commission, and that he would prefer paying a

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