23
H.—ll
No. 37. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to Professor S. F. Baird. Sir,— Wellington, 20th June, 1878. Mr. Creighton informs Government that the sum of 500dols. is due on account of the transshipment of whitefish ova, and the matter is also referred to in your letter to Mr. Creighton, of January sth, but no account has been sent for the amount. Mr. Creighton, in his letter to the Government, states " Mr. Clark did not send any accounts, so I infer that the Idol, per thousand mentioned by Professor Baird covers the cost of package. This may not be the case, however, and if so 500dols. is due to the Fish Commission in Northville." Under the circumstances it is desirable that the payment should be made through you, and I beg, therefore, to enclose Bill of Exchange for the amount—SOOdols., with a voucher form, and request that you will be good enough to pay the money, and procure a receipt from the person to whom the money is due, as it is not clear if "Mr. Clark," and the Fish Commission in Northville are one and the same. Apologising for having to trouble you in this matter, Prof. Spencer F. Baird, Washington, D.C.U.S. I have, &c, G. S. Whitmore.
No. 38. The Under Colonial Secretary to R. J. Creighton, Esq., San Francisco. Sir,— Wellington, 20th June, 1878. I have the honor, by direction of the Colonial Secretary, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th April, in which you enclose one from Mr. F. N. Clark, of Northville, and ask that a sum of 500dols. may be remitted to that gentleman. As you name no one in your letter, and as it is not clear on what account and for what service the 500dols. is claimed, the Government have, in order to avoid any possible mistake, remitted the money to Professor Baird in a letter, a copy of which is enclosed for your information. I have, &c. G. S. Cooper.
No. 39. Mr. J. C. Firth to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Auckland, 7th June, 1878. Referring to your letter of 11th October, 1877, asking me to undertake the transhipment of half a million Salmon ova expected by the next San Francisco mail steamer from Professor Baird of the United States Fish Commission, and authorising me to incur the necessary expenditure to ensure the success of the importation, and having now received final accounts, I have the honor to inform you that the total expenditure incurred in this behalf has amounted to the sum of £195 175., minus £22 55., cost of sending ova to Sir Samuel Wilson, - £173 12s. These charges are heavy, but I am happy to learn from various sources, that perfect success has been obtained, which would not have been secured under a less liberal expenditure. Having taken the keenest possible interest in the great work of establishing American salmon in this colony from the first, my personal services have been most cheerfully rendered, and I beg you will permit me to present the above sum of £173 12s. as my contribution to the good work of introducing so valuable a food fish into New Zealand. I have further the honour to inform you that I have frequent reports of the success of the experiment, young salmon in various stages being reported to me as seen in nearly all the rivers in this Provincial district, in which I placed the ova or fry. I have, (fee, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. J. C. Firth.
No. 40. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to Mr. J. C. Firth. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 20th June, 1878. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, reporting the perfect success which has so far attended the last importation of Salmon ova from America, and informing me that your total expenses in connection with the ova amounted to £173 125., which sum you desire to present as your contribution to the good work of introducing so valuable a food fish into New Zealand. I can only again tender you my thanks on behalf of the Government for your very successful exertions in this cause, and, at the same time, say that while they regret your refusal to allow them to le-imburse you for the expenditirre you have incurred, the Government feel that the colony is deeply indebted to you for your generous aid in the introduction of American salmon. I have, &c, J. C. Firth, Esq., Auckland. G. S. Whitmore.
No. 41. Professor Baird to Dr. Hector. United States Commission Fish and Fisheries, Dear Dr. Hector, — Washington 12th June, 1878. Yours of the 27th April is to hand. I had been prepared for the account of the failure of the whitefish eggs, having been previously advised to that effect.