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the labour market steady, and to insure their being able to carry out their contracts. The GovernH*ent do not feel at present in a position to interfere with the arrangements made in London between tke Agent-General and your firm, as the question of modification of the terms of the existing agreement has some time since been referred there to be dealt with by the Agent-General and the Messrs. Brogden, more especially as, before this reference is acted on, your Mr. James Brogden will probably have arrived in London. " John Henderson, Esq., C.E., Wellington. " E. Bichakdson." From that we presume that you have now received the necessary power to make the modifications we asked for, and also in reference to the emigrants we have already despatched to New Zealand, and .shall be glad of an early reply to this effect. We have, &c, John Brogden and Sons. The Hon. I. E. Featherston, Agent-General for New Zealand, &c. Messrs. Beogden and Sons to the Agent-General. Sir,— 5, Queen Square, Westminster, S.W., 26th May, 1873. Wo have the honor to draw your attention to our letter of the 15th instant, to which we have not yet received a reply, and shall feel obliged for the favour of same at your earliest convenience. I have, Ac, The Hon. I. E. Featberston, John Beooden and Sons. Agent-General for New Zealand. The Agent-Geneeal to Messrs. Beogden and Sons. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Gentlemen,— 27th May, 18-73. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of loth instant, relative to emigration operations in which you have been concerned with the Government of New Zealand. In reply, I beg to inform you that I have not yet received any communication from the Government, of the kind indicated in the Hon. Mr. Richardson's letter to Mr. Henderson, as quoted by you ; but that I shall be happy to forward to the Government any representation you may desire to makeon the subject. In the-meantime I have the honor to request that you will be pleased to complete your contract without further delay. I have, &c, Messrs. Brogden and Sons, 5, Queen Square, • I. E. Featheeston. Westminster. Agent-General. The Agent-General to Messrs. Beogden and Sons. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Gentlemen,— 28th May, 1873. Since writing my letter of yesterday, the only Despatch from the New Zealand Government relating to your emigration contract (which had been mislaid) has been found. The Despatch is dated the 23rd November, 1872, and covers the correspondence that took place between Mr. James Brogden and the Government in New Zealand, with reference to your emigration contract of the 27th June, 1872. The Minister for Immigration, in a letter dated the 2nd November, 1872, says, iv reply to Mr. James Brogden's letter of the 28th October, 1872, " I have to express to you the regret of the Government that, after the gravest consideration, they find themselves unable to meet your views so far as to relieve the firm from their liabilities in connection with the conduct of immigration under the agreement referred to ; but 1 may state that, so far as regards modifications in the terms of the contract as respects future operations, favourable consideration will be given to any suggestion or recommendation which may be made by the Agent-General, with whom, upon the subject, your firm are invited to place themselves in immediate communication." It will thus be seen that, with regard to the past, my hands are absolutely tied ; and that as you liave made no proposals for modifications in the terms of the contract as respects future operations, I have no alternative but to call upon you to complete the contract without further delay. I have, &c, Messrs. John Brogden and Sons, 5, Queen Square, I. E. Featherston, AVestminster. Agent-General. Messrs. Beogden and Sons to the Agent-Geneeal. Mir, — 5, Queen Square, Westminster, S.W., 12th June, 1873. At the invitation of the Minister, the Hon. G. Maurice O'Korke, conveyed to our Mr. James Brogden, in New Zealand, by "letter of 2nd November, 1872, and in compliance with your letter of 27th May last, we address you on the subject of the agreement of 27th June, 1872, between the Governor of New Zealand and ourselves, relative to the promotion of immigration into the Colony. The negotiations on this subject commenced, as you will remember, in New Zealand, between Mr. James Brogden and the Ministry there, and the continuance of them was relegated to you and the members of our firm in England. At that time the postal arrangements from the Colony were very irregular, and we received intimation from our firm that the subject was so remitted to us, but without any further particulars. You will doubtless remember that the draft agreement for emigration, which had been discussed in the Colony, was handed to us by you, and you informed us that it had in fact very nearly been signed by our Mr. James Brogden, but at the last moment he had declined to take