5

A.—sb

Enclosure 3 in No. 9. Mr. Kennawat to the Agent-Geneeal. Sie, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 16th September, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, in which you inform me that the Government have instructed you by cable that my salary is to be reduced to £600 a year, and state, in reference thereto, that you will be glad to know whether I shall be willing to submit to this reduction. You further remark that you are totally at a loss to understand why the reduction made in my salary is larger than that of other officers. Under these circumstances, unaware also as I am of the reason why my salary has thus been made the subject of exceptional treatment, and in the absence of any knowledge of how and when such reduction is to be enforced, I venture to think that I am justified iu asking that I be allowed to postpone my definite reply to your inquiry, until I am placed in possession of the information which I have indicated above, and have had a reasonable time allowed me to give the same proper and careful consideration. If you allow me to do this, I shall reserve until then any further representations which under the circumstances I might deem it right, in justice to myself and to the office I hold, to make on the subject. Meanwhile I most sincerely thank you for the strong expression of confidence and appreciation of my services contained in your letter, and which I assure you I very highly value. I have, &c, Waltee Kennawat, Sir J Vogel, K.C.M.G. Secretary to the Agent-General's Department.

Enclosure 4 in No. 9. The Agent-Geneeal to Mr. Kennawat. Sie, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 18th September, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, and in reply to say, I think it not unreasonable that you should postpone your decision until the arrival of the letter indicated in the telegram from the colony Meanwhile you will of course have to submit to the deduction of 10 ° 0 Yours, &c, W Kennaway, Esq. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure 5 in No. 9, The Agent-Geneeal to Mr. McKellae. Sie, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 9th September, 1880. I regret to have to inform you that I have been instructed by the Government in New Zealand to reduce the salary of the officer acting as Accountant, &c, to this department, to the sum of £300 per annum. This alteration involves either the loss to this office of the benefit of your services or your continuing to act in the above-named capacity at the reduced rate. I have, therefore, to request you to inform me whether you will (as I trust you will see your way to do) continue at the office at the reduced rate of salary It is with much regret that I make this communication to you, as I have no hesitation in saying that your services have been of special value to the department, and I should be truly sorry to lose the benefit of your experience and skill. I am, &c, W. G. McKellar, Esq. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure 6 in No. 9. Mr. McKellae to the Agent-Geneeal. Sie, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 15th September, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter informing me that you have received instructions from the Government to reduce my salary from £500 to £300 per annum. I have to tender you my best thanks for the kind and considerate way in which you have conveyed this intelligence to me, and for the expression of your satisfaction with the manner in which I have discharged my duties during the eight years I have been in the service of the Government as Officer of Public Works and Accountant. As you are aware, these duties have not only embraced those of accountant, but also those of public works, comprising the duty of attending to the requisitions received from the Government, their shipment, and the responsible duty of protecting them by marine insurance. I have not, however, been described on the nominal roll of the Civil Service as holding any other office than that of Accountant. I venture to submit that this joint service of Officer of Public Works and Accountant has escaped the notice of the Government, when deciding upon the large reduction of my salary I would, therefore, ask the favour of your kindly submitting to the consideration of the Government that, owing to the joint-services being performed by me, a less reduction may be made from my salary I have, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, Agent-General for New Zealand. W G. McKellae.