93

I.—7a.

Appendix D. 5. If any dispute shall arise between either of the parties to any contract, as hereinbefore mentioned, upon any matter or thing which, according to the terms of such contract, ought to be or might be referred to arbitration as aforesaid, then either party desiring to proceed to arbitration under this Act shall prepare a statement in writing setting forth in a concise manner the nature and extent of the claim made by such party, and the propositions of fact and law which such party desires to submit to a Judge of the Supreme Court in support of such claim, and shall deliver a copy of such statement of claim and propositions to the other party; and the other party may, within fourteen days after receipt of such statement, deliver to the party from whom the same shall have been received such propositions of fact and law as such other party desires to submit to such Judge in opposition to such claim. At any time within one month after the expiration of the said fourteen days the party desiring the reference shall cause a copy of kucli claim, and of any proposition of fact or law in support thereof, or which shall have been delivered in opposition thereto, to be filed in the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court in the judicial district where, according to this Act, such reference may be had. Provided that, if in such district there be more than one such office, then such copies shall be filed at the office of the Supreme Court in such district, at the town or place where the Judge assigned to such district usually resides. 6. The party desiring a reference shall give a reasonable notice to the other party of such filing, and of the time of the application hereinafter mentioned ; and, as soon as conveniently may be after the filing of such copies as aforesaid, such first-mentioned party shall apply to the Judge assigned to the district to hear and determine the matter of such claim, and to fix a day, time, and place for proceeding in the matters so to be referred to him as aforesaid. Notice of the time and place so fixed shall in all cases be given to the other of the said parties, unless such other party shall appear at the application for fixing the same.

Appendix E. [New Zealand Tim.es, 4th April, 1878.] Messrs. Bbogden's Claims. To the Editor of the New Zealand Times. Sib,— 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 Aethad 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. ¥m. Thos. Locke Teayeks.

The Hon. the Phemiee to His Excellency the Govebnob. Memorandum for Sis Excellency. Sib G-eoege Geet presents his respectful compliments to the Marquis of Normanby, and acknowledges the receipt of two despatches from the Secretary of State's Department, London, dated 7th February, and 18th March, 1878. Sir George Grey transmits herewith a memorandum by the Attorney-General of New Zealand, which covers a copy of correspondence between the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General respecting the questions raised by the despatches; and Sir George Grey requests that the Marquis of Norrnanby will be good enough to forward those documents to the Secretary of State. Wellington, 14th June, 1878. G. Geet.

MESSRS. BROGDEN'S CLAIMS OE 1881. A limited number of these have been printed already, and hound in a volume lettered on the outside "Messrs. Brogderis Claims. — The Claims of 1881." They are not reprinted here, but copies for reference have been deposited in the General Assembly Library.