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No. 5. The Hon. the Peemieb to Mr. C. W. Cave. Sib, — Government Offices, Wellington, 28th May, 1883. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, with reference to the Messrs. Brogden's claims on the Government of New Zealand. 2. In accordance with my promise I have again considered the subject of a compromise of the matters in dispute, and the consequent relinquishment of all legal proceedings by Messrs. Brogden, and I have submitted your proposal to the Cabinet. 3. The conclusion arrived at is the same as that which I communicated to you on a former occasion—namely, that the Government does not desire to withhold from Messrs. Brogden any portion of what may be due to them, nor that they should relinquish any legal proceedings which are available for the enforcement of their claims. I have, &c, Charles W. Cave, Esq., Wellington. Ebed. Whitakee.

No. 6. Mr. C W. Cave to the Hon. the Pbemiee. Wellington, 12th June, 1883. Sic, — Ec Messrs. Brogden's Claims. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter hereon on the 28th ultimo, in which you remark " that the Government does not desire to withhold from Messrs. Brogden any portion of what may be due to them, nor that they should relinquish any legal proceedings which are available for the enforcement of their claims;" and, in reply, I would ask leave to call your attention again to my letter of the 22nd February last, addressed to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, in which I endeavoured to point out that Messrs. Brogden had, in fact, submitted to the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered in December, 1881, by which it was decided that the legal conditions pleaded by the Government were, in law, a good defence to the claims. The Government is no doubt aware that, within the last few days, a discontinuance has been entered on the first count of the petition of right in the case of "Brogden v. The Queen," so that all legal proceedings in the colony are at an end. This being so, I venture to hope that the Government will now be of opinion that the time has arrived when the matter may be dealt with on an equitable basis, and will consent either to discuss the propriety of settling for a lump sum, as suggested in my letter of the 25th May, or will agree to refer the claims to arbitration upon some such terms as are mentioned in my letter to Mr. Bell of the Ist December last. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Chaeles W. Cave.

No. 7. Mr. C. W. Cave to the Hon. the Pbemieb. Wellington, 4th July, 1883. Sib, — . Ec the Brogden Claims. May I be allowed to call your attention to my letter of the 12th June last, and to ask that, if possible, I may receive a reply thereto before the next San Erancisco mail for England, leaving here on the 15th instant, as I am extremely desirous of then forwarding to Messrs. Brogden the decision at which the Cabinet have arrived. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Charles W. Cave.

No. 8. Mr. 0. T. Benzoni to Mr. C. W. Cave. Sir,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 6th August, 1883. In reply to your letter of 4th ultimo, addressed to the Hon. the Premier, I am directed by the Minister for Public Works to inform you that the Government cannot entertain your application, after the report of the Joint Committee which sat last session on the Brogden claims. I have, &c, C. W. Cave, Esq., Solicitor, C. T. Benzoni, Wellington. Acting Under-Secretary for Public Works.

Authority: Geobge Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB3.