THE AGENT-GENERALSHIP: PAPERS RESPECTING THE APPOINTMENT OF SIR F. DILLON BELL.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1881 Session I, A-05a

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1881. NEW ZEALAND.

THE AGENT-GENERALSHIP: PAPERS RESPECTING THE APPOINTMENT OF SIR F. DILLON BELL.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency.

No. 1. The Premier to Sir F D. Bell. Sir P D. 'Bell, Paimerston, Otago. Wellington, 19th October, 1880. After careful consideration, the Government desire to offer to you the appointment of Agent-General, feeling assured that not only would the duties be efficiently discharged by you, but that the appointment would give satisfaction throughout the colony In view of the necessity for the strictest economy, the Government have decided to fix the salary at the same amount as that of a Cabinet Minister, namely, £1,250, but without deduction. They think the office should be held for a limited term, say four years; and that the expenses of the Agent and his family, to and from England, should be paid. In case it should be decided to proceed with the Inscription of Stock, the Agent-General would be expected to give his services for that purpose, without additional remuneration. I shall feel much obliged if you will give this offer your early consideration; and it will be gratifying to me to learn that you find yourself able to give to the colony the benefit of your services in this important position. John Hall.

No. 2. Sir F D. Bell to the Premier. Hon John Hall, Wellington. Paimerston, 25th October, 1880. I now answer formally your telegram of Tuesday, offering me the appointment of AgentGeneral, which I accept with cordial thanks to yourself and Ministers for the very handsome terms in which your offer is made. You have long known that your views and mine entirely agree, both as to the office being held for a term, and as to no separate pay being given for any services, including stock inscription, which Government require to be performed. Dillon Bell.

No. 3. The Premier to Sir F D. Bell. Sir, —■ Government Offices, Wellington., 9th December, 1880. I have the honor to forward to you, herewith, the warrant, signed by His Excellency the Governor, and approved in Executive Council, appointing you to be Agent-General for the colony 2. The warrant requires that, within one week after your arrival in London, you shall give notice to Sir Julius Vogel that you are ready to enter upon the duties of the Agency Sir Julius Vogel has (by letter dated the -ith instant) been informed that your appointment would be so framed, and His Excellency the Governor has accepted Sir Julius VogeFs resignation as from the day upon which you shall give such notice. 3. The salary attached to the office, from the date of your assumption of it, will be £1,250 a year This reduced amount, as compared with that hitherto paid, includes the deduction of 10 per cent, applied to Civil Service salaries by the House of Representatives last session. The allowance for the expenses of removing yourself and family to England will be £500. 4. In offering to you the appointment, the Government stated that they thought the office should be held for a limited term, say four years ; and, in accepting it, you expressed your entire agreement as to that limitation. It is also an understood condition of the appointment that,

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should the Government decide upon further operations, you will be ready to serve as Agent under the Consolidated Stock Act, or in raising loans for the colony, without salary or allowance except such as attaches to the office of Agent-General. I have, &c., Sir F Dillon Bell, &e., Dunedin. John Hall.

Enclosure. A. Gordon, Governor. To'the Hon. Sir Francis Dillon Bell, Knight, Greeting: Whereas by the fifty-fifth section of " The Public Revenues Act, 1878/'' it is enacted that the Governor in Council may from time to time appoint, and may in like manner remove and may re-appoint, a fit person to be the Agent-General for New Zealand in the United Kingdom, who -shall have full power to transact all business within the United Kingdom on behalf of the colony -of New Zealand, subject to such instructions as he may from time to time receive from the •Governor in that behalf: And whereas the office of Agent-General is at present held by Sir Julius Vogel, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint •George, who hath resigned the same, such resignation to take effect upon his successor entering upon the duties of the said office : Now, therefore, I, Arthur Hamilton Gordon, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said colony, and in pursuance and exercise of the power and authority conferred upon me by the hereinbefore recited section of the said Act, do hereby appoint you, the said Sir Francis Dillon Bell, to be the A gent-General for New Zealand in the United Kingdom, to have, hold, exercise, and enjoy the said office, subject, however, to the provisions of the said Act and the terms of this present instrument of appointment: And Ido declare that this appointment shall take effect upon your giving notice in writing to the said Sir Julius Vogel that you are prepared to enter upon the duties of the said office, such notice to be so given by you not later than one week after your arrival in London : And I do also require you to enter upon and discharge the duties of the said office in person, oxcept only in case of sickness or other incapacity, and leave of absence first duly granted. Given under the hand of His Excellency the Honorable Arthur Hamilton Gordon, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Her Majesty's High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same; and issued under the Seal of the said Colony, at the Government House, at Wellington, this seventh day of December, one thousand eight hundred and eighty John Hall. Approved in Council. Forster Goring, Clerk of the Executive Council.

No. 4. Sir F. D. Bell to the Prebher. Sib, — Dunedin, 14th December, 1880. I have had the honor to receive to-day your letter of the 9th instant, transmitting the warrant under the hand of His Excellency the Governor in Council, appointing me to the office of Agent-General. I shall duly obey the commands therein contained, as to the notice to be given by me to Sir Julius Vogel, that I am ready to enter upon the duties of the office. I beg to renew the assurance already conveyed to you by telegram, that I entirely agree to the proposals which accompanied the offer you were pleased to make me of the Agent-General-ship, upon the resignation of Sir Julius Vogel. I believe that many advantages will result to the public service by limiting the term for which the office shall be held, and I am perfectly satisfied with the term of four years now appointed. The salary which the Government have fixed and the allowance for removal to England are ample. I thoroughly concur also in the further condition that, whether for transactions under the Consolidated Stock Act, or any operations connected with the loans, or indeed any other functions which the colony may require him to perform, the Agent-General of New Zealand should receive nothing in the shape of special salary or allowances whatever. I have, &c, The Hon. John Hall, &c. F D. Bell.

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No. 5. Sir Julius Vogel to the Hon. the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 17th February, 1881. I have the honor to inform you that Sir Francis Dillon Bell has arrived in London, and that he will assume the duties of Agent-General to-morrow, the 18th instant, from which date I shall cease to act. I have, &0., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 6. Sir F D. Bell to the Hon. the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 18th February, 1881. I have the honor to inform you that Sir Julius Vogel has this day given over to me the charge of this department, and that I have accordingly entered upon the duties of my office. I have, &c., F D. Bell, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Agent-General.

Authority : Q-eobge Didsbtjby, Q-OTernment Printer, Wellington.—lBBl.

Price 3d.]