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The tracings are enclosed in a tin case, with padlock, which is forwarded, by special permission of the Post Office authorities, by the present mail. I enclose you the key. I have, Ac, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 5. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 18th June, 1879. I have the honor to enclose the copy of a letter received from Messrs. J. and E. Hall in continuance of previous correspondence. I shall be glad to be able to give them some reply. No acknowledgment has yet, I think, been received of the plans they sent out, which must have cost them a great deal of trouble. I may, perhaps, be allowed to say that I am still of opinion that the large quantity of gunpowder and explosives in various shapes which find their way to the colony in passenger ships, constitute an element of danger which, if possible, it would be well to avoid. I hare, &c, JITLirS VOGEL, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 5. Messrs. John and Edward Hall to the Agent-General. Sir, — 21, St. Swithin's Lane, London, 17th June, 1879. On the 21st of August last we had the pleasure of transmitting, through you, to the Ministry in New Zealand, a complete set of drawings of a gunpowder factory, such as we have erected in each of the Presidencies of India. Owing, probably, to the pressure of other business, we have up to the present heard nothing from your Government; but it certainly seems to us that there are few matters which more urgently demand the attention of a Government like that of New Zealand than the creation of a gunpowder factory within its own domains. Not only is it a necessity in time of war to have within an island the means of producing what gunpowder may be required, but it is also greatly to be desired in time of peace, because the numerous emigrants to the island must be more or less subject to danger, owing to the frequent carriage of combustible materials. We shall esteem it a great favour if you will be good enough to communicate to your Government the contents of this letter; and, should they be disposed, as we trust they may be, to entertain the idea of shortly erecting a gunpowder factory, we hope the reference which we gave you on a former occasion to the Council of India will be sufficient assurance that any work which may be intrusted to us will be promptly and honorably executed in a proper manner. Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., We have, &c, New Zealand Agency, Westminster. John and Edward Hall.

No. 6. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to the Agent-General. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 2nd August, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 513, of the 18th June, enclosing copy of one from Messrs. J. and E. Hall, in continuance of previous correspondence on the subject of the establishment of a powder factory in this colony, and, in reply, to inform you that the Government does not at present see its way to carry out this proposal. I should feel obliged if you would express to Messrs. Hall the thanks of the Government for the trouble they have taken in bringing this matter under notice. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. G. S. Whitmoee.

Authority i G-eoege Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB79.

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