E.—2

1874. NEW ZEALAND.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH AGENT-GENERAL, LONDON. LETTERS FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency.

\_Note. —The formal letters advising the execution of the orders for railway materials have been omitted. The orders forwarded to, and the shipments made by, the Agent-General are, for convenience, scheduled and inserted in Parliamentary Paper E. 1., 1874.] No. 1. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (Cablegram.) London, 2nd October. Shipped eight locomotives, 1,800 tons rails, sixteen wagons. Pollen, Wellington. Featherston.

No. 2. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 787.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 24th November, 1873. With reference to the instructions conveyed in Public Works Memorandum No. 81, of the 4th July, 1873, I have now the honor to state that I have arranged with Messrs. G. D. Tyser and Co., of Crosby Square, to effect the marine insurances of the Government at Lloyds at the following rates :— Upon goods free of particular average, in vessels warranted AI ten years and upwards, 225. 6d. per cent. Upon goods in tin, with particular average, 255. per cent. Upon locomotives, railway carriages, and goods in tar, with particular average, 30s. per cent., subject to 10 per cent, discount after deducting the 5 per cent, brokerage, which they retain. I may observe that in effecting insurances at Lloyds, it is considered that a greater risk is incurred in recovering losses than if insured in first-class offices ; but to provide against any losses that might arise from the failure of any underwriters who might bear the Government policies, I have taken the guarantee of Messrs. G. D. Tyser and Co. to secure the Government against such, should they arise. I would beg leave to observe that this firm is wealthy and of high standing in the City, and that the head of the firm is the Chairman of Lloyds. Upon the South British Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand commencing business in London, I shall not fail to observe the instructions communicated in your letter No. 99, of the 22nd August last,* to give them a fair share of the Government insurance, provided their rates do not exceed those I am paying at Lloyds. I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Agent-General.

See Par. Papers, E. 3,1873, No. 29.

• Note. —The letter alluded to, and a further instruction on same subject, are as follow : — (No. 99.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, New Zealand, 22nd August, 1873. Si^ I have the honor to request that you will be good enough to offer the South British Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand a fair share of the insurance you effect on shipments of Government property ; provided, of course, that their terms do not exceed those of other companies.—l have, &c., Daniel Pollen. Tho Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Extbact from Memorandum No. 54-73, for the Agent-Genbbal, London. "I need scarcely add, that whenever the insurance is not effected in the New Zealand Insurance Company, the South British or the National Insurance Company of New Zealand, the names of tho colonial agents (if any) of the insurance company in which it is effected should bo stated.—Edwabd Richaedson. " Public Works Office, Wellington, New Zealand, 29th October, 1873." I—E. 2.