D.—s

48

In reply, I have [to express to you Mr. Vogel's thanks for your services in this matter, and to inform you that your recommendation that Mr. Seaton should be paid the sum of £50 has been carried out. I have, &c, A. E. C. Strode, Esq, Dunedin. C. E. Haughton. (Similar letter to Mr. Watt.)

No. 139. Mr. J. Seaton to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic,— Portobello, Otago, 18th May, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter dated Bth current from your office, enclosing copy of one from the Agent-General,* relative to my claim against the Government, which is now under arbitration. In reply, I would beg to remind you that when you proposed to refer the matter to the AgentGeneral, I stated that I had no claim against him, —that I had been paid up to the date he mentions. I also made a similar statement in the claim I preferred in writing. But as regards the latter portion of his letter, where he avers that I made no application to him for my passage-money, or it would have been advanced according to instructions, I dare not trust myself to characterize it. I shall send you copies of the letters that passed between the Agent-General and myself on that subject (Messrs. Strode and Watt have the originals), by which you will be able to judge how much reliance can be placed on his statements. At the time he agreed to terminate my engagement, I was promised a sum to cover cost of return passage, and as he did not remit that when he sent my last payment, I wrote the following letter:— " Sic,— " Glasgow, 4th June, 1873. " I have just received a cheque for £58 6s. Bd, being the usual monthly remittance ; but as you kindly agreed to permit me to return home, and promised I should have an allowance for return passage, as per former agreement, I am a little disappointed that it and the payment for the time occupied on the return voyage has not been included iv the cheque, as I have no business to detain me in Britain, and wish to proceed home by the earliest possible opportunity. " Will you have the goodness to forward the necessary funds to enable me to carry out that intention ? Tour early attention to the above request will much oblige, " Yours truly, "I. E. Featherston, Esq." "James Seaton." (Eeplt). " Sic,— " London, 7th June, 1873. " I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, and am to request that you will bo good enough to inform him the name of the vessel in which you intend sailing for New Zealand, and the amount of your passage money, when an order will be sent you, payable in the Colony. —W. G. McKellae, pro I. E. Feathebston." " James Seaton, Esq." This note did not reach me till the 10th June, and the vessel I had taken my passage in was to leave on the following day, consequently I was precluded from sending the information required. The lameness ofthe excuse is only equalled by its effrontery, and. is just in keeping with the usage I met during the whole time I had the misfortune to be connected with his Department. I have written this letter more for the purpose of showing that I made no statement that I could not substantiate, than with the intention of blaming the Agent-General. If that had been my object, I have abundance of material, but will refrain in the meantime. I have, &c. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. James Seaton.

No. 140. Mr. T. Bißcn to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic,-— Dunedin, 20th November, 1873. I have to advise you that I arrived here from Britain on the 11th instant, and would have advised you of my arrival earlier, but was informed you were expected in Dunedin daily, which must be my excuse for this apparent delay. I beg to enclose the amount of my claim for services rendered in Britain to date 11th instant, and trust you will, at your earliest convenience, give the matter your favourable consideration. I am, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Thomas Biech. The General Government of New Zealand to Thomas Birch. £ s d For services rendered in Britain under emigration scheme, — To 5 months and 10 days' salary, at £58 6s. Sd. per month ... 311 2 2 Eeceived for month of June, on account ... ... ... 27 0 0 £284 2 2 N.B.—The terms of arbitration accepted by Mr. Seaton, were offered to Mr. Birch, but were declined by him. * No. 80, D. 3, 1874, p. 48.