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No. 14. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet to His Honor the Sttpebintendent, Westland. (No. 174.) Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 7th May, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 173, of the 30th of March, in which you enclose a resolution of the Provincial Council, to the effect that great injustice is done to Westland in consequence of the salaries of the Eesident Magistrates in that province being paid by the Provincial Government. 2. I must point out to your Honor that the Eesident Magistrates in Westland, with the exception of Mr. PitzGerald at Hokitika, who is paid by the General Government, are essentially gold fields officers, for whose services there would be no necessity if there were no gold fields, and who therefore ought to be paid, in Westland as in other auriferous provinces, out of gold fields revenues. 3. I shall, however, have no objection to bring the matter before the Cabinet when the estimates are under consideration. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Westland. Daniel Pollen.

No. 15. His Honor the Supeeintenbent, Westland, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Hokitika, 21st May, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 174, of sth May, 1874, relative to the payment of Eesident Magistrates' salaries. With reference to paragraph 2 of your letter, in which you state there would be no necessity for these officers if there were no gold fields, and therefore they should be paid out of gold fields revenue, I have the honor to submit that the special injustice complained of lies in the fact that the very revenue contributed by the population on the gold field, in the shape of fees and fines to the Courts, is absorbed by the General Government, and not applied to the payment of the expenses of those Courts. If the Provincial Government received tke Court fees, they would willingly pay the salaries of the officers, as the amount received would more than cover the cost. I have to thank you for promising to bring the matter before the Cabinet, and I trust that, on consideration, the Government will afford us the relief which I feel the equity of the case entitles me to ask for. I have, &c, .as. Bonae, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 16. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet to His Honor the S.pebintendent, "Westland. (No. 265.) Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 29th June, 1874. Eeferring to your Honor's letter of the 21st May, in reply to mine of the 7th of that month, upon the subject of the salaries of the Eesident Magistrates in gold fields districts, I have the honor to inform you that the subject having been considered by the Cabinet, the Government have come to the conclusion that it is not desirable, for the present at least, to propose to the Legislature an alteration in the mode of providing for the salaries of officers on the gold fields of the colony. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Westland. • Daniel Pollen.

By Authority: Gxobgb Didsb.ry. GoTermnent Printer, Wellington.—lB74. Price 3d.]