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No. 4. The Agent- Geneeai to the Hon. the Colonial Secbetaby. (No. 426.) 7, Westmister Chambers, Victoria Street, Sir, — Westminster, S.W., 13th June, 1873. With reference to the Hon. Mr. O'Rorke's memorandum of 14th April (72), 1873, in which he states that the Government see the force of my representations that if I am debarred from landing emigrants in New Zealand during the winter months, my operations will practically be limited to sending out emigrants during six months of the year; and adds that " this restriction on the despatch of emigrants is now removed, as you have before this learned by cablegram of 12th April instant;" I beg to observe that these instructions have come too late to prevent the result I had anticipated, so far as the present year is concerned, Had no such restrictions been imposed, the number of emigrants despatched would have been considerably greater, and the delay in withdrawing the instructions iv question will, I fear, materially interfere with my sending out the aggregate number of emigrants ordered in your last despatches. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. A gent-General.

No. 5. The Agent-Genrhal to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 427.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, SIX, — Westminster, S.W., 13th June, 1873. I have the honor to forward herewith, for the information of the Government, copy of correspondence I have had with Messrs. Brogden and Sons. As their letter of the 12th instant was only received by me this morning, it is, of course, impossible for me to make any comments upon it by the present mail. I shall feel obliged by your informing me how far the statements made by Messrs. Brogden and Sons are correct. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 5. Messrs. Bbogden and Sons to the Agent-Genebal. Sir, — 5, Queen Square, Westminster, S.W., 15th May, 1873. In our interview with you on the 10th April last, we understood you to say that you were not then empowered to concede to our claim in reference to the emigration operations we have conducted with you on behalf of the Government of New Zealand. We have now the honor to enclose an extract from a letter received by the last mail, which reads as follows : — " Public Works Office, Wellington, 25th February, 1873. " With reference to your remarks relative to emigration, the Government understand that; Messrs. Erogden only undertook the sending out of labourers from England to keep the labour market steady, and to ensure their being able to carry out their contracts. The Government do not feel at present in a position to interfere with the arrangements made in London between the Agent-General and your firm, as the question of modification of the terms of the existing agreement has some time since been referred there to be dealt with by the Agent-General and the Messrs. Brogden ; more especially as before this reference is acted on, your Mr. James Brogden will probably have arrived in London. " E. RICHAKDSON. "To John Henderson, Esq., C.E., Wellington." From that we presume that you have now received the necessary power to make the modifications we asked for, and also in reference to the emigrants we have already despatched to New Zealand, and shall be glad of an early reply to this effect. We have, &c. The Hon. Dr. Featherston, John Brogden & Sons. Agent-General for New Zealand.