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D.—3

Requesting you would be good enough to accept this letter as conveying a reply to yours of the 2nd instant, I have. Ac, G. V. Stewart, Esq., Katikati. ' D. A. Tole. P.S. —Tour request to have the agreement printed on parchment has been agreed to. —D. A. T. I wrote, in reply to this letter, returning the draft agreement approved of by me, and which was subsequently confirmed by Waste Lands Board on 31st July, and reported in Herald on Ist August. Geo. Vesey Stewart.

Enclosure 2 in No. 19. The Agent-General to Mr. G. V. Stewart. Sir,— 23rd October, 1877. Referring to your letter of the 16th instant, I have to inform you that I cannot find the Gazette notice of the 13th July to which you refer in any of the Gazettes issued about that time, received at this office. I must again repeat that I am without any knowledge whatever as to the nature of the agreement which you state that you have entered into with the Government in New Zealand. If, however, you will furnish me with a copy of the agreement, as finally concluded, I will endeavour to act in accordance with it so far as this office is concerned. I am, &c, Julius Vogel, G. V. Stewart, Esq. Agent-General.

Enclosure 3 in No. 19. Mr. G. V. Stewaet to the Agent-General. Sic, — Chambers, 50, Dawson Street, Dublin, 27th October, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, forwarded to me from home. The agreement which you desire is locked up, and I do not think any person can get it in my absence. I have therefore desired the printers to forward you a copy of my pamphlet, and at pages 102,103, and 104 you will find a verbatim copy of my document. With reference to the lands having been proclaimed, I have at home an original telegram dated Ist August, 11.30 a.m., Government Buildings, Wellington, from Hon. Donald Reid to myself, stating that the lands had been proclaimed under the Act of 1874, on the 13th. This telegram was handed to me as the mail steamer was leaving. I am glad to find these difficulties are now likely to be cleared away, as I have already lost six valuable weeks of my limited time. I have, &c, Geo. Vesey Stewart. P.S.—Will you kindly return me Mr. D. A. Tole's letter that I enclosed you in my last, and I trust you will be good enough to give me a circular letter to your various Local Agents, requesting them to give me their co-operation. G. V. S.

Enclosure 4 in No. 19. The Secretary, Agent-General's Department, to Mr. G. V. Stewart. Sir,— 30th October, 1877. I am directed by the Agent-General, in reply to your letter of the 27th instant, to return to you Mr. D. A. Tole's letter. lam also to inform you that the Agent-General has not yet received a copy of your pamphlet which you state you have desired the printer to forward to him. I have, &c, Walter Kennaway, Geo. Vesey Stewart, Esq. Secretary to the Agent-General's Department.

Enclosure 5 in No. 19. The Agent-General to Mr. G. V. Stewart. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 27th November, 1877. Referring to the form of certificate which you left at this office on Saturday in favour of Mr. P C and family, I do not think, so far as I can judge from the tenor of your agreement with the Government of New Zealand, as published in your pamphlet, that it is sufficient. The Government, in reserving to the Agent-General a right of approval, could not have intended him to approve simply on your certifying that the intending emigrant was a fit and proper person for your special emigration party. The mere fact of your selecting the person would indicate your opinion, and if such a certificate was sufficient there would be no need for the Agent-General's approval. I expressed to you the opinion, when you lately called on me, that I should be furnished with at least the following information as regards the persons you wish me to approve —namely, names and addresses, ages, assurance that they are in good health, their previous occupation, their intended pursuit in the colony, and whether they have made any arrangement to settle on the land.