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appointment of Mr. Frank Bee to the position ; also of your cablegram of the 18th ultimo, announcing the withdrawal of Mr. Eee's candidature. Under the circumstances, and as il became evident from your letters on the subject that it would be quite hopeless to obtain the services of a gentleman of really first-rate standing in the English railway world for the salary which the Government was authorised to offer, or even for a considerable advance on same, it has been decided, as already intimated to you by cable, to select a Board of Commissioners from amongst the officers already in the Government service in the colony. The salaries agreed to be paid on this basis are as follows :To Mr. KcKerrow, £1,200 a year ; and Mr. Maxwell and Mr. Hannay, £1000 a year each. In conclusion, I have to thank you very much on behalf of the Government for the very great trouble which you have taken in this matter, and I should be much obliged if you would also be good enough to convey the best thanks of the Government to Sir Edward Watkin and Mr. Findlay for the very valuable assistance which they have rendered to you therein. Edwin Mitchelson, Minister for Public Works.

No. 19. Memorandum from the Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Minister for Public Woeks. 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 4th April, 1889. I received in due course the Hon. Minister's memorandum of 21st January (No. 2/89) directing me to convey the thanks of the Government to Sir Edward Watkin and Mr. Findlay for the very valuable assistance they gave in connection with the appointment of the Chief Commissioner of Railways. I have already selected two pieces of plate, of the value of £40 each, for presentation to those gentlemen, in accordance with the practice on so many other occasions where the services of distinguished persons have been sought; and I have now been desired by Sir Edward Watkin and Mr. Findlay to offer their cordial thanks to the Government for the appreciation of those services by the colony. F. D. Bell.

[Approximate Cost of "Paper. —Preparation, nil; printing (1,200 copies), £3 Bs. 6d.]

Authority : George Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB9.