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I now beg to accept the offer contained in your letter of the 23rd July above quoted, subject to the conditions expressed in the fourth paragraph of the same. I trust that the Government will bring this matter before Parliament, as proposed by it, and will not offer any opposition to the extension of the term from one to three years should Parliament agree to recommend it. I have, &c, Edward Eichardson, Director, For the New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited). The Hon. the Premier, Wellington.

No. 9. The Hon. the Minister of Immigration to Messrs Levin and Co. Gentlemen, — Government Offices, Wellington, 26th July, 1883. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, submitting, on behalf of the Shaw-Savill and Albion Shipping Company (Limited), an offer to start at once a line of direct steamers between London and New Zealand ports. 2. Before that letter was received, the Government had made temporary arrangements for the conveyance of emigrants and cargo from England, which arrangements will, as soon as is possible, be laid before Parliament, so that the whole question may be discussed. 3. The papers on the subject will be at once printed, and copies shall be sent to you without delay. I have, &c, Messrs. Levin and Co, Wellington. Wm. Eoleeston.

No. 10. Messrs. Levin and Co. to the Hon. the Minister of Immigration. Sir,— Wellington, 30th July, 1883. We have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 26th July, informing us that the Government had made temporary arrangements for the conveyance of emigrants and cargo from England, and which will, as soon as possible, be laid before Parliament, so that the whole question may be discussed. We trust that the above arrangement will be such as to permit this company sharing the Government carriage equally with any other company, as apparently you have decided against the suggestion made in our letter of the 19th July that the work should be submitted to competition. In the letter last mentioned we took leave to say that we believed this company would be in a position to carry emigrants and cargo at rates which would bear favourable comparison with those the Government are now paying, or have hitherto paid; and we have now the honour to state that the pioneer steamer of a regular monthly service leaves England in September, and that the company is prepared to contract for one year for the whole or one-half of the Government service by steamers, taking emigrants at 30s. per adult and cargo at ss. per ton less than is paid under the present contract by steamers. This company's service will be so conducted as to meet the wants of the leading ports of the colony, and to give each a fair share of the benefits to be derived from regular steam communication with Great Britain. We should add that this company, while ready and able to undertake the whole of the Government carrying business, seeks no monopoly, and is content to share such business with the New Zealand Shipping Company as heretofore. We venture to ask you to give the above proposal your favourable consideration. We have, &c, Levin and Co., Agents for the Shaw-Savill and Albion Company (Limited). The Hon. the Minister of Immigration, Wellington.

No. 11. The Hon. the Minister of Immigration to Messrs. Levin and Co. Gentlemen, — Wellington, 31st July, 1883. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, stating that you are willing to contract for the conveyance for one year of the whole or one-half of the Government immigrants and cargo. In reply, I have to inform you that your letter will be laid before Parliament with the other correspondence on. the subject. I have, &c, W. Eoeleston, Messrs. Levin and Co., Wellington. Minister of Immigration.

Authority: Gb§kge Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB3.