3

8.—13.

Enclosure 6 in No. 3. 21, Cannon Street, London, E.C, 22nd February, 1892. Dear Sir, — Composition of Stamp Duties. We beg to acknowleage receipt of your letter of to-aay's aate, ana will see the authorities at Somerset House on the subject, but before aoing so will adopt your suggestion ana see the Chief Accountant at the Bank of Englana. We have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealana. Mackrell, Maton, ana Godlee.

Enclosure 7 in No. 3. 21, Cannon Street, Lonaon, E.G., 3r3 March, 1892. Dear Sir, — Composition of Stamps. Referring to your letter of the 22n3 ultimo, we saw the Chief Accountant of the Bank of Englana on the subject of the composition of stamp auty, ana subsequently attenaea at the Inlana Revenue, ana haa a long aiscussion with the official in whose aepartment the matter rests. After aiscussing the matter fully with him he askea that we wouia make a written communication to the authorities on the subject, when the matter wouia be aealt with. This we accordingly did, and we are awaiting a reply from the department. With reference to your letters of the 23rd ultimo and of yesterday's date, we have referred to the deed-poll creating the stock, and it appears to us that the amount required for the expenses attending the issuing of the stock in exchange for the debentures falling due on the 15th January and the 15th April this year will have to be provided out of the £10,000,000 New Zealand 4-per-cent. stock created under the deed-poll of the 20th May, 1886. If, however, there is any doubt on the matter we shall be glad to call and see you on the subject, if you will let us know. We observe that £20,000 of stock was created by a deed-poll dated Ist June, 1885, for payment of the expenses then incurred in connection with the arrangement made with the debenture-holders under the prospectus of the 6th March, 1885. We have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Mackrell, Matok, and Godlee.

Enclosure 8 in No. 3. 21, Cannon Street, London, E.C, 12th March, 1892. Dear Sir, —■ Stamp Duties. We have this morning receivea from the Secretary of the Inlana Revenue a letter, of which we enclose you a copy. We are writing to the Chief Accountant of the Bank of Englana informing him that the Inlana Revenue do not see their way to depart from the decision already communicated to the Bank. We have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Mackrell, Maton, and Godlee.

Enclosure 9 in No. 10. Gentlemen, — Inland Revenue, Somerset House, 11th March, 1892. The Board of Inland Revenue have had submitted to them your letter of the Ist instant, seeking a reconsideration of their decision upon an application of the Bank of England for the allowance of the stamp duty on the debentures of the New Zealand Government 5-per-cent. Consols when exchanged for inscribed stock. The Board, I am directed to acquaint you, have given careful consideration to the plea advanced by you in support of that application that when, in the year 1885, the first conversion was effected upon the condition that the further conversion into inscribed stock should be carried out in 1892, section 53 of the Inland Revenue Act of 1880 was in force ; but, as that section is now repealed, they regret that they have no power to depart from the decision already communicated to the Bank of England. I am, &c, Messrs. Mackrell, Maton, and Godlee. W. W. Cousins, Secretary.

No. 4. (No. 25.) - The Premier to the Agent-General. Sir — Premier's Office, Wellington, 19th May, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th March last (No. 395), reporting the steps you had taken to obtain an allowance off the amount of stamp duty payable on the 4-per-cent. stock into which the 5-per-cent. conversion bonds maturing this year were convertible, and am sorry to learn that you were unsuccessful. It seems, however, that you did all that was possible in the matter, and I thank you for your efforts to obtain a concession. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. - J. Ballance.

No. 5. The Agent-General to the Premier. (No. 514.) Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir— 14th April, 1892. In continuation of my letter (No. 389) of the 19th March last, I beg to report the following financial matters : — # * # * * 4. The Stock Agents have inscribed £29,000 4-per-cent. stock for the purpose of meeting the payment of the stamp-duty on the £4,557,047 stock into which the seven- and six-year debentures, issued in 1885 and 1886, are convertible this year, and arrangements have been made with the Bank of England to make advances thereon, if necessary, pending its realisation. A sale of £10,000 of this stock was, however, effected yesterday at 101-f, and it will probably be all sold in time to avoid taking any advances thereon. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. B. Perceval.