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No. 20. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. (No. 45.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 3rd March, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth ultimo, reporting on the differences between the Government and Messrs. E. Sloman and Co. and Mr. C. A. Mathei, and the claims to compensation of Mr. Kirchner; and stating that you will write further on the subject after again seeing Mr. Mackrell. With reference to your remarks on the proposal to refer the matter to arbitration, I entirely agree in your opinion that this course is not advisable. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. D. Eeid.

No. 21. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 9th March, 1877. Pritchard, time cannot be extended. Money now be paid or sale lapse. Vogel, London. Atkinson.

No. 22. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. (No. 54.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 10th March, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 39, of 12th January, enclosing a copy of correspondence with Mr. Galbraith, of the Albion Shipping Company. I would draw your attention to letter from your office of date 23rd May last, No. 396, in which you state that Messrs. P. Henderson and Co. had agreed to despatch vessels from the Clyde for Otago on the same terms as those from London, and as this is the same contract, I cannot see how they should now look on it in a different light. The Government reserved the Clyde portion of the contract in this Company's interest, and by reading clause 13 of the contract, I do not see why you should have expressed any doubt to Mr. Galbraith on the matter of the New Zealand Shipping Company having to provide ships from the Clyde on the same terms as those from London. Probably, Mr. Galbraith, imagining that they dealt rather hardly with him hitherto in not giving his Company a share of the London emigration, may wish to make up for it now that he has the opportunity. I cannot agree with Mr. Galbraith with regard to the rates of freight. The rates are the same as those offered by Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co., and were a fair freight at the time, but he looks at them in the light of the present ruling rates, while the companies are fighting, and consequently very low rates are ruling. The Government have no desire to see the shipping trade of New Zealand in the hands of one firm, and will not in any way seek to inflict an injustice on the Albion Shipping Company, who have conducted their business with the Provincial Government of Otago during many years in a way that was highly satisfactory, and for which great credit is due them. You may state that the Government will, before the present contract expires, submit the carrying of emigrants and freight to public competition, when all will be able to compete for it, and if the different companies fairly compete for the work, there is no fear of the Government showing any partiality; they will accept the offer most advantageous. Should, however, the companies combine together to tender at an unreasonable rate, the Government will be quite at liberty to pursue the course they may consider best under such circumstances. I have, &c, Geo. McLean, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. (for the Minister for Immigration).

No. 23. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. (No. 55.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 20th March, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the Bth January last, in which you request instructions on a question which has been raised as to the interpretation of the agreement between the Government and the New Zealand Shipping Company, iv case it is desired to send out a smaller number of emigrants than 150. In reply, I have to inform you that the Government is advised that, under clause 3 of the agreement, all emigrants and cargo must be sent by ships of the Company (with certain exceptions which do not concern the present question) ; that under clause 7 the Agent-General cannot require the Company to provide a ship for the conveyance of a less number of emigrants than 150 (except in the cases provided for in clause 6); and that the power to charter a vessel not provided by the Company is only to be exercised in case the Company fails to supply the same when required. I have, &c, Geo. McLean, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. (for the Minister for Immigration).