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[Extract from the New Zealand Times of the 4th April, 1878.] Messrs. Beogden's Claims. Sib, — To the Editor of the New Zealand Times. Mr. Henderson was in error in stating that I did not know of the existence of the Government Contractors Act until the year 1877. I knew of its existence, but had never read it until it became necessary for me to do so in connection with the claims of the Messrs. Brogden against the Government. It then appeared to me that the Government, and the Legislature by which the Act had been passed, had been guilty of a gross breach of faith towards the Messrs. Brogden, by introducing into the Act a set of provisions which materially modified the rights they had under their contracts. Messrs. Brogden were informed by the Government in office, when their contracts were entered into, that an Act would be requisite to give to the Judges of the Supreme Court authority to act as arbitrators under the contracts, and to provide for the course of procedure; but they assumed that the Government would act in good faith, and therefore did not watch the Act as it passed through the Assembly. The consequence of their reliance on the good faith of the Government has been that their rights under their contracts have been seriously interfered with. I have, &c, - Wellington, 3rd April. Wm, Thos. Locke Tbatees.

CORRESPONDENCE SINCE THE VISIT OF A. BBOGDEN, ESQ., M.P., TO THE COLONY. Messrs. Bbosden and Sons to the Hon. the Ministeb for Public Wobks. Sib,— Wellington, 19th February, 1881. We have the honor to request to be furnished with the particulars and details which respectively make up the following sums named in our Treasury voucher. P.W. 78/4689, under date 28th February, 1879 :— Auckland and Waikato: Newmarket - Mercer Contract, Auckland Station-ground, Auckland and Newmarket, Onehunga Branch ... £267,848 15 7 —but, inasmuch as these are two separate accounts, we should be obliged by having the amounts appropriated respectively : —■ Napier-Pakipaki ... ... ... ... ... ... £61,904 2 7 Waitara-New Plymouth ... ... ... ... ... 48,825 14 2 Waitald-Moeraki ... ... ... ... ... ... 177,901 7 4 Taieri Contract ... ... ... ... ... ... 186,580 1 5 Invercargill-Mataura ... ... ... ...■ ... ... 109,080 6 2 Also particulars of cash stated to be paid on account, viz. : — Auckland and Waikato : Newmarket - Mercer Contract, Auckland Station-ground, Auckland to Newmarket, Onehunga Branch ... £267,883 14 1 —but, inasmuch as these are two separate contracts, we should be obliged by having the amounts ap* propriated respectively : — Taieri Contract ... ... ... ... ... ... £185,773 8 3 Invercargill-Mataura ... ... ... ... ... ... 111,321 11 3 We should not trouble you but we are unable, from any previous information rendered by you, to. make up or identify the different amounts; and, as they do not agree with those previously received, we are unable to examine their accuracy or to point out the discrepancies. We have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Jons Beogden and Sons.

The Hon. the Mmtstee for Public Woeks to Messrs. Bkogden and Sons. Gentlemen, —■■ Public Works Office, Wellington, 3rd March, 1881. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo, requesting that you may be furnished with the particulars and details which respectively make up certain sums named in a voucher indicated by you; and, in reply, to state that, having given the matter full consideration, I regret that I cannot comply with your request. Apart from the labour that would be entailed upon the department in supplying this information, I may remind you that the detailed accounts have already been furnished in respect of these contracts, and that you have preferred various claims against the Government based upon such accounts. Considering the relations between yourselves and the Government, and the position which the latter has taken in regard to your claims, I do not think it expedient or necessary that the desired details should be furnished. Referring to the interview of your Mr. A. Brogden with myself a few days ago, at which certain proposals were made by him to the effect that your engineer should be permitted to accompany an officer appointed by the Government over the various works, and that they should together enter generally into a consideration of the several matters in dispute, I feel compelled to say that this proposal, and the others made at the same interview, would not in my opinion lead to any practical result. I have, &c, Messrs. Brogden and Sons, &c, Wellington. E. Omteb,