8.—17.

To the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer.—lt is requested that the opinion of the legal adviser of the Crown may bo taken. —Ciiaeles Knight.—27th October, 1876. Eepeeeed to the Solicitor-General. —C. T. Batkin. —27th October, 1876. Me. Batkin.—l understand that the offices in respect of which Dr. Pollen claims retiring allowance are all offices held under the Colonial Govornment, and in the Civil Service of the colony. The claim is made under the Act of 1801, which secures to officers who have entered the Civil Service before the 10th of August, 1858, and served the prescribed periods, an allowance in respect of the " office or offices held by them during the last three years of the period of service." This being so, I think the claim is good. Speaking generally, the provisions of the second section of the Civil Service Act of .1866 do not apply to claims under the Acts of 1858 or 1861.— W. S. Eeid.—3oth October, 1876. Eepeeeed to the Commissioner of Audit.—-C. T. Batkin.—3oth October, 1876. Dr. Pollen's minute herewith.—3oth October, 1876. Memoeandum.—Since the time when the arrangement for the payment of the Imperial pensions by me was made by the Colonial Treasurer (see Treasury minute, 6th January, 1872), I have held that office and discharged the duties required of me in connection with it up to the present date.—Daniel Pollen.—3oth October, 1876. It is understood that Dr. Pollen continued up to the 31st December, 1874, in the active discharge of the duties of the several offices for which he claims pension. It has also been ruled that it is the salary attached to the office, irrespective of the amount actually drawn, that should form the basis of computation. The pension will accordingly be £408 6s. Bd.—Ciiaeles Knight, Commissioner of Audit.—3lst October, 1876.

No. 44. The Hon. Dr. Pollen to the Hon. the Colonial Teeasueee. Sib,— Wellington, 30th October, 1876. As it appears that the date—namely, 25th November, 1873, ultimo, as that upon which a retiring allowance should be computed —would not give me " seventeen years and upwards " of service, as I expected, I have now the honor to request that I may be permitted to withdraw that letter, and to ask that His Excellency the Governor may be moved to grant me a retiring allowance as from the 31st December, 1874. I believe that, as I still hold my appointments in the Civil Service, I am entitled to claim the full consideration for my services up to this present date; but I desire to be permitted to waive all claim for the intervening period. The total amount of salary for the last three years would thus be £2,450. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, AVellington. Daniel Pollen.

No. 45. The Hon. Dr. Pollen to the Hon. the Peehiee. Sih,— Wellington, 30th October, 1876. I beg leave to tender my resignation of the undermentioned appointments in the Civil Service of the colony, which I have continued to hold up to this time, namely: Government Agent, Auckland ; Paymaster, Imperial Pensions ; Eeceiver of Land Eevenue; Commissioner of Confiscated Lands. The question of the amount of retiring allowance to which I am entitled may be allowed to stand over for future consideration. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Daniel Pollen. Appeoyed.—H. A. A.—3lst October, 1878. Appeoted.—N. In Executive Council. His Excellency the Governor is recommended to sanction the issue of a retiring allowance to the Hon. Dr. Pollen, at the rate of four hundred and eight pounds six shillings and eightpence (£4OB 6s. Bd.) per annum, in accordance with the provisions of " The Civil Service Superannuation Act, 1858," and of " The Civil Service Amendment Act, 1861." H. A. Atkinson.

No. 46. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Hon. Dr. Pollen. Sir, — Government Buildings, 31st October, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, in which you tender your resignation of the undermentioned appointments which you have continued to hold up to this time, namely: Government Agent, Auckland; Paymaster, Imperial Pensions; Eeceiver of Land Eevenue; Commissioner of Confiscated Lands. In view of the operation of "The Disqualification

19