G.— 9.

3. My present engagements, viz. : —Paid public duties. I am now Inspector of Schools for this Province ; this office takes up quite half of my available (or sound) time ; and those duties are (generally) of such a nature as to become a necessary relaxation to me. From the foregoing, it will be seen that I cannot possibly have any very satisfactory or practicable " proposal" to make; and I shrink from making any which I could not fulfil. Again, it must not be forgotten that the work is still incomplete; from its very nature it is different in this respect from almost any other. Words under A (the first letter) cannot possibly be any farther advanced towards completion than those under Z (the last letter), perhaps, indeed, not so far advanced; seeing that the last letter, having fewer under it, might be the sooner filled up. Therefore, under all the circumstances, the only feasible proposal that I can at present make, is the following, viz., —to proceed at once to do all that I can to get a portion of the work, though incomplete, read} r for the press (say, from A onwards) ; the first parcel to be forwarded to you in January next, the same to be (if possible) followed by other portions throughout the summer; by so doing, a small part of the work would be ready for members by their next session. Meanwhile (and after the prorogation of the General Assembly) I will correspond through you with the Government Printer as to the manner, &c, of its being printed. I should be very sorry for it to bo printed without my revision of the sheets ; that, too, being work to which I have been accustomed. I will thank you to let me know at your early convenience whether you agree to the abovementioned proposal. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, AV'ellington. Wm. Coxenso. By Authority: Geobge DiDßßiritY, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB73. {Price 3d.] 4 t i

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