25

D.—3

Enclosure 5 in No. 28. Mr. G. V. Stewart to the Agent-General. Sir, — Martray House, Ballygawley, 25th February, 1878. I have to acknowledge receipt of a letter this morning from Mr. Kennaway, dated 22nd instant, which I presume is in reply to my telegram of the 23rd instant. The supply of schedules or forms of applications therein referred to has not reached me. I have, however, informed you that such had long since been printed by me at my expense, and I enclose you herewith a blank form thereof. I note your remarks with regard to the gentlemen referred to in my letter of the 14th instant, and as you appear to ignore the instructions you have received from Mr. Macandrew (as conveyed in his letter to me of the 7th December last), and withhold these certificates without any just or reasonable cause, after all your previous requirements had been fully complied with, it only remains for me to await further direct instructions from the Government of New Zealand on the subject of further certificates. In my letters of the sth and. 14th instant I have already informed you I was quite prepared to sign the agreement upon being satisfied that it was correct. I have reasons for declining to meet Mr. Turbitt; but, as you appear so urgently to desire my signature, I will sign it upon the conditions already stated, in presence of the New Zealand Commissioner, Mr. Samuel Cochrane, New Zealand Office, Custom House Square, Belfast, as I have made appointments to meet him and several intending emigrants at his office on next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Geo. Vesey Stewart. P.S. —If you send the agreement to Mr. Cochrane you will be good enough to send the map or certified tracing of the lands therein contained.

Enclosure 6 in No. 28. The Agent-General to Mr. G. V. Stewart. Sijt,-^- 7, Westminster Chambers, 28th February, 1878. I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, enclosing a copy of the forms which you state have been printed at your expense. The Agent-General desires me to direct your attention to the fact that, in printing the forms, the notes, giving directions as to the manner in which the forms should be filled up, have been omitted, and he therefore would be glad if you would use the forms sent to you from this office, as in those forms the notes are included. The Agent-General, with reference to } rour remark that he appears to ignore the Hon. Mr. Macandrew's instructions, desires me to say that, in declining to accept your interpretation of Mr. Macandrew's remarks made in a letter to yourself, it does not appear to him that he is acting in the manner you describe. Having ascertained from Mr. Cochrane that he is willing to act in the matter, the Agent-General will forward to him the agreement which he has received from the colony, for your signature. No map or certified tracing of the land has been received from the colon}-, so that the AgentGeneral is unable to comply with the request contained in the postscript to your letter. LTnless you see your way to sign the agreement the Agent-General directs me to say that he will be unable to take any further steps with reference to it. I have, &c, Geo. Vesey Stewart, Esq. Walter Kennaway.

No. 29. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Jsth April, 1878. Stewart's agreement—Dispense with, clause seven. Inform him. Vogel, London. Macandrew.

No. 30. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, N.Z., 17th April, 1878. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 25th and 28th February respectively, forwarding copies of further correspondence with Mr. Vesey Stewart and other enclosures. By the same mail I am in receipt of a letter from Mr. Stewart setting forth certain difficulties which he has experienced in giving effect to the provision embodied in clause 7 of tho agreement with him. In order to remove any further difficulty, and to relieve both parties from an unpleasant correspondence, I have thought it best to dispense with clause 7. The class of emigrants selected by Mr. Stewart has been a very superior one, and, judging from the past, I think we may fully confide in his future selection. Indeed, lam disposed to think that it was perhaps a mistake at the outset inserting clause 7, imposing as it did upon you a specific duty which left you no option but strictly to adhere thereto. As it is, seeing that Mr. Stewart and his party will in all probability have sailed ere this reaches you, it is unnecessary for me to say more than express my regret that the strict fulfilment of your official duty has led to a correspondence which must, I have no doubt, have been disagreeable to both parties. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. J. Macandrew. 4—D. 3.