P.--2.

11

Enclosure 3 in No. 21. Mr. J. Bboomhall to the Agent-Generai. Sib,— Burcott, Surbiton, Surrey, October 22nd, 187 S. I have the honor to acknowledge copy of your letter dated 17th October (original not received) in which you inform mo that the Government of New Zealand is not willing to complete the sale to me of the block of land for which I treated when in the colony, and in which you intimate being ready to pay me the sum of £3,000 on account of my expenses. I shall bo glad to know if the sum of £3,000 is a hard and fast sum, or if you have a discretion in the matter, because, when I was informed that the block was in the Laud Court, I put myself in comlnunicatiou with the Government, and drew its attention to the fact that, on the 28th November, 1576, (anterior to the sale) I had been officially informed that the land " had passed the Native Lands Court." Coupling this fact with the opinion of the Attorney-General, that the sale was invalid (but not from any act of mine), and the desire expressed by the people at the Thames that the land should be allotted to them, I recognized the difficulty in which the Government was placed, and intimated to it that I shrank from being, or appearing to be, antagonistic, and, should the Government desire to retire from the contract, and recoup the loss, that I would release it of all embarrassment. I informed the Government that the loss, without interest of money, had been £2,500 in cash alone, and I trusted it would meet the matter in a reasonable spirit. I did not state what I considered reasonable for loss in labour and time, preferring the Government to estimate those items, and hoping it would be more liberal in its estimate than I was in my expectations, but I informed my friend Mr. Pox that I thought £5,000 the lowest the Government could offer me —£2,500 for time and labor, and £2,500 as compensation, but I left the matter an open question. In the event, therefore, of your instructions being limited to £3,000,1 accept of it, and will call oil you at Victoria Street, to-morrow, the 23rd, to complete the matter. Sir Julius Vogel, C.M.G., I am, &c., The Agent-General for New Zealand. J. Beoojihall.

Enclosure 4 in No. 21. The Agent-Geneeal to Mr. Bsoomiiali,. Sic, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 23rd October, 187 S. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant. In reply, I have to say that I do not feel myself- at liberty to communicate to you the conSdential instructions which I have received. As however, lam sure the Government do not desire to act illiberally with you, I am willing to increase tho amount paid to you to £3,500, which will give a margin of £1,000 over and above the expenses you have incurred. I have, &c, Julius Yogel, J. Broomhall, Esq. Agent-General.

No. 22. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Minister of Immgbation'. Sib, — 7, "Westminster Chambers, London, Bth November, 1878. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th of September, No. IGB, with reference to the proposed bonus on beet-root sugar. I fear the probability which you mention, of the entire abolition of the duty on imported sugar, will much lessen the inducement to any one to undertake the production of beet sugar in the colony. I have received no further applications on the subject of the proposed bonus, but Mr. Tossvvill, a settler of Canterbury, New Zealand, proposes to visic Belgium with the object of making himself acquainted with the beet-sugar industry. lam procuring for him, from the Foreign Office, a letter of introduction to Her Majesty's Minister, with a view to facilitate his inquiries. I hope his investigation will lead to his taking up the matter. I have, &c, Julius Vogel. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-Greneral.

No. 23. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sib, — 7, "Westminster Chambers, London, 21st November, 187 S. I have the honor to inform you that the ship " Piako," which sailed on 11th October, from Plymouth, with emigrants for Timaru and Lyttelton, is reported by the New Zealand Shipping Company to have put into Pernambuco, as her cargo was discovered to be on fire. On the arrival of the ship at Pernambuco it appears that it was found necessary to scuttle her, for the purpose of extinguishing the fire, and that the emigrants were landed. I considered that it would be desirable to ask the Foreign Office, through tho Colonial Office, to telegraph to the English Consul at Pernambuco, and desire him to see that the emigrants were properly cared for and suitable arrangements made for despatching them to their destination, and tho Foreign Office has complied with my request. I enclose copies of communications which have taken place with reference to the matter, up to the present date. I have, &c, Jclius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.