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No. 28. The Hon. J. A. Bonae, M.L.C, to the Hon. the Peemiee. Sib, — Government Buildings, Hokitika, 26th January, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the Bth instant, conveying to me the thanks of the Government for .my past services, and intimating their acceptance of my offer to assist in the completing of the transfer of the Provincial Departments to those of the colonial Civil Service. Permit me to thank you for the kind terms in which you have been pleased to express this ackowledgment, and to say that it gives me great pleasure to co-operate in any way I can with the Government in bringing about a change which I feel will confer a lasting benefit upon the colony. I have, &c, Jas. A. Bonab, Executive Officer for the Provincial District of Westland. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington.

No. 29. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet to Henby Bunny, Esq., M.H.E. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 13th January, 1877. The Premier has already informed you how highly the Government value your promise to continue to assist in conducting public business within the Provincial District of Wellington ; and I have now the honor to forward to you delegations and warrants conferring powers similar to those exercised by you prior to the close of 1876. 2. The desire of the Government is to benefit by your aid in completing the transfer to specified departments of the colonial Civil Service of duties which were performed by departments of the Provincial Service; and also in facilitating the assumption by the County Councils of the powers and duties given to them by the Act of the Legislature. 3. The Government believe you will agree with them, that your aid will be most efficacious if your attention is directed to the supervision of the officers or bodies responsible for the performance of different duties rather than to direct personal action. But there must arise cases in which it will be advisable you should act as the agent of the Government. In all such cases, your recommendations will be favourably considered, and your subsequent action will be upheld. 4. You are aware that no salary can be attached to the office you have consented to hold ; but any expenses necessarily incurred in connection with the duties of your office will be repaid to you by the Treasury. I have, &c, Chables C. Bowen, Henry Bunny, Esq., M.H.E., Wellington. (in the absence of the Colonial Secretary). Similar letters to F. A. Carrington, Esq., M.H.E.; A. P. Seymour, Esq., M.H.E.; Oswald Curtis, Esq., M.H.E.; W. Eolleston, Esq., M.H.E.; and the Hon. J. A.'Bonar, M.L.C.

No. 30. W. Bolleston, Esq., M.H.E., to the Hon. the Peemiee. Sib, — Government Buildings, Christchurch, 18th January, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Bth January, and to thank you for the kind manner in which you are good enough to acknowledge such services as I have been able to render to the Government since the abolition of the provinces. I have subsequently received Mr. Bowen's letter of 13th January, forwarding to me delegations and warrants conferring powers similar to those exercised by me prior to the close of 1876. It will give me pleasure to continue to assist the Government in those matters of administration in which my services may be of use. I do not think that I clearly apprehend the meaning of the third paragraph of Mr. Bowen's letter, and should be glad if the Government would state more explicitly the relation which I should hold to the several departments of Government. I would submit that, to prevent confusion, some general regulation should be issued as to what departments should correspond with, or send correspondence through, my office, and whether all or only certain kinds of correspondence should be so forwarded. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. Eolleston.

No. 81. The Hon. the Colonial Secbetaby to W. Eolleston, Esq., M.H.E. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 26th January, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 17, of the 18th instant, and desire to express to you the thanks of the Government for the readiness with which you offer " to continue to assist the Government in those matters of administration in which your services may be of use."

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