D.—7

duty both to the Corporation and to the Government, and because. I am convinced that, if you give the assurance, the Government will have every reason to rely upon it. I have, &c, A. F. Halcombe, Esq., Julius Vogel. Agent E. and C. Aid Corporation, "Wellington.

No. 3. Mr. A. F. Halcombe to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sie,— Wellington, 16th September, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th iustant, informing me that the Government will make an advance of £5,000 in money, bearing interest at 5 per cent., to the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, in lieu of issuing Crown grants for the amount held by the Government as a security for the bona fides of the Corporation. Eecognizing the difficulties surrounding the questions which are referred to in your communication, I have to thank you for the consideration of the Corporation's interests shown in the proposed arrangement, and desire to convey to the Government my assurance that, to the best of my belief, if this advance is made the Corporation will be able to proceed with its work, and will not have to suspend its operations on account of any future want of funds. In giving this assurance, however, in the form required by your letter of the 10th instant, aud in accepting the offered advance of £5,000, I desire to remind you that the release of the security held by the Government was never asked for on the ground that its release was necessary to enable the Corporation to continue its work. I still contend that, having more than faithfully carried out its contract with the Government up to the present date, the unconditional release of the security held is due to the Corporation, and will, I trust, be made at the earliest possible period. I have, Ac, A. F. Halcombe, Agent, Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington.

No. 4. Colonel the Hon. W. Feilding to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sie,— Wellington, 13th February, 1875. I am instructed by the Board of the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation (Limited) to bring to the notice of the Government of New Zealand the views they entertain respecting the contract of the 20th of December, 1871, as at present modified by the subsequent correspondence of the 23rd November, 1872. From the wording of certain clauses in the contract, and of certain paragraphs in the letter from the Superintendent of this province (enclosed in your letter of the 23rd November, 1872), considerable inconvenience has already been experienced, misunderstanding arisen, and difficulties in carrying out the wishes of both parties to the contract are not unlikely to arise, unless an explanation be promptly made. With this intention, I have the honor to transmit herewith a memorandum on the subject, arranged, as far as practicable, so as to facilitate its being considered in detail by the several heads of departments. * I venture to hope that the Government will bring to the consideration of this subject a conviction that the Corporation desires to act fully up to the spirit of the contract, and honestly to carry out the scheme of settlement, to which, as the annexed schedule of their expenses in New Zealand alone, up to the 31st of December, 1874, will show, they are deeply committed, not only financially, but also in indication of their personal good faith. At the same time I am directed to convey to the Government the cordial thanks of my co-directors for the handsome and liberal manner in which it has always met, or tried to meet, their wishes. Trusting that I may be favoured with an early reply, I have, Ac, W. Feilding, Colonel, Attorney for the E. aud C. A. Corporation (Limited) in Australasia. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. P.S. —Since writing this letter, I received a reply to a letter I wrote yesterday to His Honor the Superintendent. Copies of these documents are annexed to this correspondence for your information.

__ W. F. Enclosure A. In re the Manchester Block. Memoeandum enclosed with Letter of 13th February, 1875, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Index to facilitate References to the various Government Departments. Immigration paragraphs —A, B, C, D, Gr, H (Ist and 2nd). Public Works „ D, E, F, G-, H (3rd and 4th). Treasury „ All. A —l. The Corporation have, up to the present date, immigrated to this colony 910 statute adults (emigrants iu the meaning of the contract— vide clauses 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, and 28). Another shipment of emigrants left England last month.

2