4

H.—l4

Office of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Sir,— Wellington, ilth'July, 1910. Referring to previous correspondence, 1 have the honour, by direction of the Minister, to inform you that a voucher has been approved for the payment of the sum of three hundred pounds (£300) as subsidy of £1 for £1 on subscriptions received in aid of the Bickerton National Shilling Fund. The above amount will be paid to the credit of the above-named fund at the Bank of New Zealand at Christchurch. 1 have, &c, Hugh Pollen, Under-Secretary. R. J. Ecroyd, Esq., Secretary to the Bickerton Association, Post-office Box No. 535, Christchurch.

Dear Sir, Post-office, Barcaldine, Queensland, 11th July, 1910. Will you kindly inform me per return mail whether you have forwarded me the necessary papers for me to sign in reference to the transfer of £1,000 on my account to the Bickerton Fund 1 If the papers have not been'sent I shall be glad if you will be good enough to explain the reasons. Possibly the papers have been stolen. Unfortunately, this would not have been the first tune valuable documents belonging to me have been stolen in transmission through the Post Office. You can readily understand how anxious I am to know if you have forwarded the papers m terms of, my letter to vou of the 25th April last. I sincerely trust Professor Bickerton will have an opportunity of demonstrating his cosmic evolution theory. No work of an educational nature will have such a vast influence for good as the work you have in hand, which will be demonstrated through Professor Bickerton, provided you have the grit to follow the plough, having taken the handle. . You may or may [not?] believe me that I am absolutely certain unseen forces are assisting Professor Bickerton, although he may be (and I believe he is) unconscious of the fact. Waiting the favour of vour replv, I am > <tec -> W. F. Aplin. The Hon. George Fowlds, Minister of Education, Wellington, New Zealand.

g IB _ Education Department, Wellington, 21st July, 1910. In reply to vour letter of the 11th instant, I have the honour, by direction of the Minister of Education, to inform vou that it is not proposed to take any action on your letters of the 25th April and 30th May last. l have, &c 1 E. O. Gibbes, Secretary for Education. W. F. Aplin, Esq., Post-office, Barcaldine, Queensland. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not siven; printing (1,400 copies), £1 17s 6d.

By Authority : John Mackav, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9lo.

Price, 3d.]