E.—3

i

Legislature of New Zealand, that the assurances of the Agent-General (acting under the most urgent pressure of the Government, as evidenced by the despatches of the Ministers above referred to) ought to be fulfilled to your memorialists, and that they ought to be indemnified by the Government from all loss in the matter of the immigration proceedings undertaken by them at Government instance and under the circumstances in this memorial stated. Your memorialists therefore humbly pray that their case maybe again inquired into, and that adequate relief may be granted to them in the premises. And your memorialists, as in duty bound, &c, &c. Alexandee Beogden. Heney Beogden. James Beogden.

No. 2. The Seceetaey for the Colonies to His Excellency the Goyernoe. My Loed, — Downing Street. 7th February, 1878. With reference to my predecessor's Despatch No. 8, of the 18th January, I have the honor to transmit to you, for communication to your Ministers, a copy of a further letter from Messrs. John Brogden and Sons, in reference to the effect which " The Crown Redress Act, 1877," of the New Zealand Legislature may have upon their claims against your Government. I have, &c., Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, M. E. Hicks Beach. G.C.M.G.

(Enclosure.) Messrs. John Beogden and Sons to the Colonial Office. My Loed, —- 21, Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, 31st January, 1878. On the 15th instant we had the honor to address a letter to your Lordship on the subject of our claims against the Government of New Zealand, and on the 18th instant we were favoured with a communication from Mr. Malcolm, in reply, for which our thanks are due to your Lordship. Since that time we have received from New Zealand a copy of a new Act, passed by the Legislature there in November last, entitled "An Act to amend 'The Crown Redress Act, 1871,'" to which we beg leave to call your Lordship's attention. It appears to us that this Act may have a very prejudicial effect upon claims such as ours, and especially that the 6th clause of it has or may have the effect of a new statute of limitations, restricting to the extraordinary short period of twelve months the right of taking proceedings for recovery of claims. We respectfully submit to your Lordship the great injustice of such an Act, which has no parallel in Great Britain; and beg that your Lordship will be pleased to consider the propriety of advising Her Majesty, by Order in Council, to disallow it. We submit also that, while the earlier clauses of the Act affect to provide new remedies for othe subjects of Her Majesty in New Zealand, the sth section again places, or at least continues, us in an exceptional position ; and in fact that, while the rest of the community is supposed to be benefited, we are continued under all disabilities which " The Government Contractors Arbitration Act, 1872," may have put upon us. We have, &c, The Right Hon. Lord Carnarvon, John Beogden and Sons. Secretary of State for the Colonies, &c.

No. 3. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 21st March, 1878. I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a letter which I received from Messrs. Mackrell and Co.. enclosing me a copy of a notice given by Mr. E. Jenkins, in the House of Commons, of a question he intended to ask on the Crown Redress (No. 2) Act of New Zealand. I also forward an extract from the Times newspaper of the 16th instant, giving the question as asked by Mr. Courtney, in Mr. Jenkins's absence, and the reply made by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Agent-General.

(Enclosure 1.) Deae Sic Julius, — 21, Cannon Street, London, 12th March, 1878. We notice in the Parliamentary Papers that Mr. E. Jenkins has given notice of a question which he intends to put to the Colonial Secretary on Eriday next, aud a copy of which we enclose. AYe are, &c, John Mackeell and Co.