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No. 39. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. (No. 121.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 20th June, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th April last, No. 368, detailing very fully the arrangements made for the final settlement of the claims of Messrs. Sloman and Co., and Mr. Kirchner, against this colony. In reply, I have to state that tho negotiations appear to have been very carefully arranged and carried out, and I am pleased to observe that they were discussed in such a moderate manner by both sides. Your action throughout this matter is approved by the Government; and as you were informed by my letter No. 69, of the 25th April last, the amount required for the payment of the claims has been remitted to you. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. D. Eeid.

No. 40. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. (No. 122.) Sir,— Immigration Office, Wellington, 20th June, 1877. Eeferring to your letter No. 212, of Ist March last, and to the correspondence respecting reductions in your department, I have now the honor to inform you that while the Government approve of the steps you have already taken to reduce the cost of the department, and of the reductions you have already made therein, it is still of opinion that the expense of the staff is too great. After giving the whole question the most serious consideration, the Government has decided that after the Ist of January next, by which date it is expected that the greater portion of the emigrants ordered will have been despatched, and the work of that branch of your department consequently much decreased, your staff may bo materially reduced. While, therefore, leaving to your decision the alterations and arrangements which may be necessary to reorganize the office, I have to request that you will, as from the Ist of January, 1878, make such reductions as will bring the total cost of the London and Edinburgh agencies to a sum not exceeding £4,000 per annum, exclusive of the salary of the Agent-General. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. D. Eeid.

No. 41. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. (No. 127.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 3rd July, 1877. Eeferring to my letter No. 119, of the 14th ultimo, I have the honor to enclose, for your information, copy of a letter from the General Manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, accepting the terms offered by the Government for the settlement of the claims of that Company against this department. I. have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. D. Eeid.

Enclosure in No 41. Mr. H. S. Smith to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. The New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, Sir,— 22nd June, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, and, in conformity with the decision of the Cabinet, I beg to hand in the following accounts : — 1. For conveying immigrants per " Hurunui," Wellington to New Plymouth, 1876 _ ... £24117 6 2. For conveying immigrants per "Hurunui" and other vessels to the colony, 1876-77 ... ... ... ... 1,466 410 3. For extra head money as agreed on, 2,063 adults @ 4s. 9d., and 534 children @ 3s. 3id. ... ... ... ... ... 586 13 9 Together ... £2,294 16 1 —for which I beg you will give instructions for the necessary immediate payment; and in accordance with your statement showing the amount of subsistence money paid by the Government on account of emigrants landed ex " Hurunui," at Weymouth and Plymouth, for subsistence money by order of the Board of Trade, I enclose you our cheque, No. 4559, on Bank of New Zealand, £115 19s. 9d. H. Selwyn Smith, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. General Manager. By Authority: Geoeoe Didsbubx, Government Printer, Wellington. —1877. Price Is.]