5

D.—4

No. 19. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to Mr. A. J. Burns. (Telegram.) Wellington, 9th December, 1879. What does Colliery Company intend doing re miners ? They are still in depot at Nelson, and are getting very dissatisfied. Mr. A. J. Burns, Westport. W. Rolleston.

No. 20. Mr. A. J. Burns to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (Telegram.) Westport, 9th December, 1879. lam awaiting instructions from my directors in Dunedin. On receipt I hope to proceed to Nelson immediately. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. A. J. Burns.

No. 21. The Under-Secretary for Immigration to the Secretary, Westport Colliery Company. (Telegram.) Wellington, 9th December, 1879. What do your directors intend doing re coal-miners who arrived at Nelson in the " Opawa " ? They arc still in depot, and are getting very much dissatisfied. The Secretary, Westport Colliery Company, Dunedin. H. J. H. Eliott.

No. 22. The Secretary, Westport Colliery Company, to the Under-Secretary for Immigration. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 10th December, 1879. Hope to have works finished shortly, and to be able to offer employment to all. The Under-Secretary for Immigration. A. Holmes.

No. 23. The Immigration Officer, Nelson, to the Under-Secretary for Immigration. (Telegram.) Nelson, 10th December, 1879. Mr. Burns states he has taken exception to eight or ten of the coal-miners, and unless cleared up to his satisfaction he will not employ them. If this is so, it should be settled without delay, as eight or ten might possibly be able to get work elsewhere. Some of the people interested in the West Wanganui Mine may probably employ them. In any case, the names should be made known at once. The Uuder-Sccretary for Immigration. Alfred Greenfield.

No. 24. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Secretary, Westport Colliery Company. (Telegram.) 11th December, 1879. I am obliged to ask you for definite answer re coal-miners at once. The Secretary, Westport Colliery Company, Dunedin. W. Rolleston.

No. 25. The Under-Secretary for Immigration to the Manager, Bruuner Colliery Company. (Telegram.) 12th December, 1879. Can you find employment for coal-miners? There are fifty at Nelson awaiting employment. The Manager, Brunner Colliery Company, Greymouth. H. J. H. Eliott.

Similar telegrams were also sent to the following mines:— CoMPANT. Eeply. Brunner Coal-mining .. .. .. None wanted. Coal-pit Heath, Greymouth .. .. None wanted. Homebush Colliery .. .. .. None wanted. Springfield Colliery .. .. .. Vide telegram, 18/12/79 Shag Point Coal-ruining .. .. .. None wanted. Green Island Colliery .. .. .. None wanted. Abbot's ltoyal Colliery .. .. .. None wanted. Fern Hill Colliery .. ~ .. None wanted.