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Enclosure in No. 3. Mr. Bulleb to the Agent-Genebal. Sib, — 7, Westminster Chambers, Sth November, 1873. With reference to the Hon. Dr. Pollen's letter of 2nd August, No. 94, of which you have to day handed me a copy, I beg to offer the following observations. Vou will remember that I had made my arrangements for returning to New Zealand by the April P. and 0. mail steamer, so as to arrive there within the period of my extended leave; that on the sth March, when you were lying seriously ill, you sent for me and requested me to undertake the duties of Secretary for a few months longer, on the broad ground that the exigencies of the Public Service required it, and stated that under the circumstances you were ready to assume the responsibility of detaining me in England beyond the period of my leave. At that time I had received from you the grant of £200 voted by the Assembly in aid of my scientific work, with unconditional leave of absence to the end of June. I did not hesitate a moment in placing myself entirely at your disposal, and made no stipulations whatever of any sort or kind. Vou afterwards fixed my salary at the rate of £400 a year, and ordered it to commence from Ist March, and although I considered the salary thus fixed quite inadequate to the office, I made no demur to it, as the arrangement was understood to be only a temporary one. I may here point out that salary at the rate of £400 per annum from the Ist March to the 31st December, with the £200 paid to me in February, would together have amounted to only £533 6s. Bd. for the whole year, thus falling short of the salary which I had previously received under the head of half-pay and acting Secretary, viz. £600. On the 28th March you telegraphed to Mr. Vogel for permission to detain me till the end of August, my appointments in the colony being kept open. The refusal on the part of the Government was not received here till the 22nd April, and the terms imposed as to time of getting back left me no alternative but to resign all my appointments in the colony. As to the " conditions " on which, as I am now informed, tho Government is prepared to sanction my appointment as Secretary, I beg to observe: — 1. That the full explanation called for in Mr. Gisborne's letter of sth July, 1872, was furnished to you more than twelve months ago, and (as you have explained in your letter to the Colonial Secretary of July llth, No. 499) was neglected to be forwarded through inadvertence. 2. That I cannot admit having received from the Government anything more than what I was both legally and honorably entitled to, and must therefore respectfully decline to make any refund of back pay. Under these circumstances, I beg to intimate that I am ready to be relieved of the duties of my office as soon as you may think fit. In retiring from the service of the Government, I desire to convey to you personally my deep sense of the confidence and friendship with which you have honored me during an official connection, of one kind or another, extending over a period of many years, and to assure you that if at any time my services in an unofficial capacity can be of any use to you, they will always be at your command. I shall feel obliged by your forwarding a copy of this letter to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, Esq., M.D., Waltee L. Bullee. A gent-General for New Zealand.

No. 4. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet to the Agent-Geneeal. Sie,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 13th March, 1874. With reference to your letter No. 307, of date November 26th, which covered copy of Mr. Buller's letter to yourself, of date November Bth ultimo, and whieh is in reply to mine of date August 2nd ultimo, I observe that you have not reported that you have recovered from Mr. Buller the sum that he has received from you during the period from January Ist to June 30th, 1873, in excess of the £200 voted for him by the General Assembly ; that sum appears to be £133 6s. Bd. The instruction conveyed in my letter above noted on this head was definite, and, as Mr. Buller was at the date of your letter, November 26th, and may not improbably still be maintained in your office as confidential Secretary, I shall be glad to learn that the directions of the Colonial Government in this matter have been complied with. I have, Ac, The Atrent-General for New Zealand, London. Daniel Pollen.

No. 5. « The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. Sie, — 7, Westminster Chambers, 12th June, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 13th March, No. 74,189, inquiring whether the instructions conveyed in your despatch of 2nd August, 1873, in the matter of Mr. Walter Buller's salary, have been complied with. In reply, I beg to refer you to my letter of 26th November, No. 807, in which I informed the Government that Mr. Buller, in a ietter to myself (of which I forwarded a copy), had, after fairly