A.—s

No. 6. Sir Julius Vogel to the Premier. (Received 9th October, 1880.) Premier, New Zealand. In accordance with your wishes, authorize you tender my resignation to the Governor. Consult your own convenience as to relieving me. Vogel. London, Bth.

No. 7 The Premier to Sir Julius Vogel. (From Wellington, 2nd November, 1880.) Vogel, London. Sir Francis Bell accepted Agent-Generalship. Leaves Melbourne middle December. Hall.

No. 8. The Premier to Sir Julius Vogel. Sir, — Government Offices, Wellington, 6th November, 1880. The telegrams that have recently passed between us respecting your official position in London, will have shown you that the Government have felt bound to act upon the tender of your resignation of the Agent-Generalship, and that a successor to the office has been chosen. . 2. .The formal advice to His Excellency the Governor to accept your resignation, has been postponed until the arrival of Sir Arthur Gordon. His Excellency will at the same time be advised to appoint to the office Sir Francis Dillon Bell. 3. It had been arranged that Sir Francis should proceed to England by the " Liguria," to leave Melbourne about the middle of December; but, owing to public business connected with Native affairs, he has been unavoidably detained, and he will leave in the "Potosi/''about the end of December. 4. It would be useless to recur to the circumstances that have led to your resignation : but my colleagues and myself desire to place upon record the expression of our great regret at the termination thus put to your official connection with New Zealand as Agent-General. We desire also to express our conviction that your services in that capacity have been honorable to yourself and highly useful to New Zealand ; for that not only have the immediate duties of the office been discharged by you with ability and zeal, but that you have greatly served the colony whenever prompt and effective explanations as to the true position or claims of New Zealand have been of importance to its interests. I have, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., &c, London. John Hall.

See Noa. 1 to 7.

No. 9. The Premier to Sir Julius Vogel. g lEj — Government Offices, Wellington, 3rd December, 1880. With reference to correspondence that has passed between us as to the appointment of Sir Francis Dillon Bell to be Agent-General, and as to that gentleman^s assumption of office, I have now the honor to inform you that the new warrant will take effect only from the time at which Sir F. D. Bell shall give you notice that he is prepared to enter upon the duties—such notice being given within a week after his arrival in London. 2. The Government trust that this arrangement will not be in any way inconvenient for you. 3. The " Potosi," in which Sir Dillon Bell sails, is announced to leave Melbourne on December 28th. I have, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., &c, London. John Hall.

No. 10. Sir Julius Vogel to the Premier. Sir,—- 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 24th December, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 6th November, relating to my resignation of the Agent-Generalship, and to the steps taken respecting the appointment of my successor. I am gratified to learn by your letter, that my services as Agent-General command the approval of the Government ; and I desire to inform you that, although at some inconvenience to myself, as I was thinking of paying a visit abroad or to the colonies, I shall endeavour to await the arrival of Sir Francis Dillon Bell in this country I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Agent-General.

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