Letter from William Fox, Principal Agent N.Z. Co. to the Honble, the Colonial Secretary, dated 3rd. July, 1850. Relative to allowance to Mr. McLean. New Zealand Company's Office Wellington, 3rd. July 1850. Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 29th, ultimo, in continuation of previous correspondence relative to Mr. McLean's allowance, and other matters of account. As it appears that in case of my refusal to pay the amount due in respect of Mr. McLean's services, that gentleman will be the sufferer, I shall not persist in my refusal, having had every reason to be satisfied with his exertions and zeal when actually employed on behalf of the Company, and being unwilling to put him to even temporary inconvenience. As soon, therefore, as he returns from the Coast (before which the services in respect of which the allowance is charged remain incomplete), I shall be prepared to settle with him. In doing so, however, I beg to express most respectfully, but most decidedly, the feeling which I cannot help entertaining of the harshness (to use no stronger term) of the Local Government requiring peremptory payment of a sum due from the Company in respect of services which are only in course of performance and yet incomplete; while it declines to pay a debt of three or four years standing, which in its origin was one of pure accommodation to the Government, and payment of which was requested nearly a year ago. Nor can I concur in the propriety of the Government referring the payment of such a debt as a doubtful matter to a tribunal of its own creation, constituting itself in fact a judge in its own cause, in a matter where there ought to be no dispute. I have the honor to be Sir, Your most obedient servant (Signed) William Fox. Principal Agent, N.Z. Co. To:- The Honble, The Colonial Secretary.