35

D.—l

Prior to September, 1872, I had frequently drawn the Agent-General's attention to the urgent need of an emigration office in Belfast, and had also pointed out to him the impossibility of any person endeavouring, single-handed, to satisfactorily carry on the work of district emigration agent for the North of Ireland. The Agent-General as frequently declined to accede to my request, or in any way entertain my suggestions, until in a personal interview I had with him in September, 1872, when, after again urging him to do what I wished, and being again met with refusal, I suggested that I should take an assistant, who should take up the position of a local agent, and who should receive the usual fees allowed by the Government. To this the Agent-General readily assented, and requested me to give the name of the gentleman I wished to appoint to Mr. Carter, which I did, giving Mr. Andrews' name to Mr. Carter immediately after leaving Dr. Featherston's private room. The AgentGeneral, at my last personal interview with him, though reminded by me of this conversation, could not recall it to his recollection, and urged it was not at all probable that he would allow me to draw £700 per annum for emigration service, and at the same time allow my clerk to receive the capitation money upon the emigrants secured through my instrumentality. This argument, though it might have been urged in Mr. Walker's case (which I will deal with presently), is not tenable as regards Mr. Andrews, as, at the time I say the conversation took place, and the appointment sanctioned by the Agent-General, I was only receiving the sum of 255. per diem, a sum given to me for travelling and maintenance expenses, and out of which it was manifestly impossible I could pay all the expenses of an office. It should be remembered that the office I opened in Belfast was, strictly speaking, a private office, and established by me for my own convenience : it was never recognized by the Agent-General as a Government emigration office ; therefore, in the eyes of the Government I had no office. Had it been recognized as a Government office, I should most certainly claim, and consider I was fairly entitled to, all the expenses attendant upon the establishing and continuing it. For my own convenience I opened the office, and for the convenience of the Government I placed a local agent in it. This agent acted as my clerk, for which I guaranteed him certain remuneration. The only difference between the local agent appointed at 2|, Corporation Street, Belfast, and the agents elsewhere, was, that the former devoted the whole of his time exclusively to New Zealand emigration, and had all his office expenses paid by me, whereas the latter had their own businesses to attend, and the emigration work that came in their way was transacted in their own business offices. I always thought that this was a very clumsy and undignified way of carrying on our emigration operations in such a splendid emigration field as the North of Ireland, and in such a town as Belfast, but I was under the impression it met with the approval of the Agent-General. My opinion always was, and still is, there ought to be a head central office in Belfast, conducted in a manner worthy of the dignity of the Colony-and the importance of the North of Ireland emigration field. On the 11th November, 1872, I wrote to the Agent-General respecting the rates allowed for commission, as Mr. Andrews was leaving, and I wished to make up his account. In reply, I received the following:— " Deae Sib,— " 7, "Westminster Chambers, 13th November, 18/2. "lam in receipt of your note of 11th instant. I observe your remarks with reference to your assistant. The adult males, proceeding with families, are paid for at the rate of ss. each, and adult females at the rate of 10s. "lam,&c, " (for I. E. Featherston), " H. W. Farnall, Esq. " A. 0. Ottyweel." On receipt of this letter I made up Mr. Andrews' commission account, and paid him. He then proceeded to London, en route for New Zealand. I instructed him to call at the Agent-General's office, get his commission account certified, and return me the £16 I had advanced him. In connection with this transaction I received the following:— " Dear Sib, — " Westminster Chambers, 27th November. " I have received your letter presented by Mr. Andrews. On examination of the commission account, we discovered an error by which an overcharge of 10s. was inadvertently made. The usual vouchers were properly completed by Mr. Andrews, and I enclose herewith a cheque for £16. Please acknowledge receipt. " I am, &c., "A. 0. Otttwell." Although Mr. Ottywell, in this letter, says, " Please acknowledge receipt," there was no reason whatever why I should comply with his request except as a matter of courtesy, for the Treasury vouchers completed by Mr. Andrews were all the receipt the circumstances of the case required. In the month of November, 1872, I had reason to believe that there would be a considerable increase in the number of emigrants from the North of Ireland, and it occurred to me it would not only be more rational, but more economical, if my- assistant was recognized as such, and remunerated accordingly, instead of receiving the fees as local agent. I therefore wrote again to the Agent-General on the subject. In reply, he " declined to allow a fixed salary, and said he preferred the capitation payment." In February, 1873,1 appointed Mr. Walker to assist me, and in connection with this appointment I received a letter signed by Dr. Featherston himself, of which the following is an extract: — " My deae Sic, — " Westminster Chambers, 13th February, 1873. " I have received your note of 11th instant, and, as desired by you, I have appointed Mr. James Walker, of Belfast, as local agent. I enclose his papers herewith." Enclosed in this letter to me was a letter of appointment, also signed by Dr. Featherston, empowering Mr. Walker to act as agent, and guaranteeing him the customary fees. This letter of the Agent-General closes with the following sentence : — " You will remember that the financial arrangement referred to in this letter was that £350 should