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dated ISth August, and 3rd September last, lp which your Excellency's promiss is conveyed, that "in the event of my claim not meeting with that justice which appears to deserve at the hands (of the Provincial Council) it should then be considered by the General Government";" and I feel assured that your Excellency's protection wiUnow be afforded mo, and that you will not permit th voidest and not least zealous officer under the New Zealand Government, to be further subjected to the serious inconvenience which has been felt by himself and family, from the non-adjustment of this claim; but, that your Excellency will be pleased, with the assistance of the officers of your Executive Council, to determine what amount should be awarded to mo for the loss of my appointment, which I regarded as permanent, and issue, such instructions to the acting Treasurer of the General Government (Mr. Carkeek) as may be necessary to enable me to receive from him the sum to which I may be found equitably entitled. I have not presumed to claim any specific amount considering that such would be decided upon by a Board of Officers appointed for the purpose, but I would respectfully draw your Excellency's attention to the measures which have been adopted in South Australia, fixing the sums to be awarded as compensation to officers similarly situated to myself, at four years salary at the rates at which they were paid by the Government as previously constituted. I enclose for your Excellency's perusal, copy of the correspondence bearing upon my case, and earnestly trust that your Excellency will allow the subject your early consideration, as upon your Excellency's favorable decision I rely for the means of enabling me to maintain myself and family. I have, &c., (Signed) S. E. Grimstone. His Excellency the Governor, New Zealand.

77. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, Gth February, 1854. Sir, —Referring to your letter of the 24th ultimo, preferring a claim for compensation for the loss of your appointment in the late Colonial Secretary's Department at New Munster, I am directed by his Excellency the Officer administering the Government, in Council, to inform you, that with every disposition to meet your wishes, the Government can do no more than direct your appeal to be laid before the General Assembly at its first meeting. I have, &c., (Signed) Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary.

Memorandum.—With regard to the promise which is conveyed in the within letter, that the subject of my compensation claim shall be brought under the notice of the House of Assembly by the Government: I would suggest that in order to give my case a special character, which I sincerely believe it deserves, that at an early period of the Session, a question should be put to the Members who may be supposed to represent the Government when it may be their intention to submit my appeal to the Assembly. This course I conceive to be a proper one, as I have heard it rumoured that a "Compensation Bill" will be introduced by the Crown in favour of those officers who may be obliged to retire from their offices from changes of a political nature. Now if those officers are to be allowed compensation from the date of their retirement; I hold it is but fair and reasonable that I should in addition to the scale of compensation which may be fixed by the Bill, be allowed an additional sum equivalent to that which I shall have lost between the date up to which I drew salary, 30th November, 1853, at the rate of £250 a-year, and the date of the passing of the Bill in question. S. E Grimstone. 12th May, 1854.