7

D.—2

No. 8

The Agent-Genbb at, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 558.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 25th July, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 138, of Ist June, together with parcel of revised copies of the contract with the New Zealand Shipping Company, some of which I have, in accordance with your request, handed to the Manager of the Company. I note that there is a difference in the list of small stores, &c., as compared with that attached to the initialled contract transmitted with your letter No. 127, of May sth; this, however, I had already made good, having been supplied with a revised copy by the Manager of the Company, received by him by the last Suez mail. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, W. Tyrone Power, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 9. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 615.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 4th August, 1876. I have the honor to inform you that, on the 29th of June, I received a letter from Mr. William Kirchner, hitherto employed as Emigration Agent for the colony on the Continent, forwarding, with the usual vouchers, his claim for salary aud allowances for the month of June, together amounting to the sum of £46 10s. 3d. At the same time Mr. Kirchner reminded me that a claim which he had made against the Government for £378 4s. in connection with the emigrants despatched by the ship " Fritz Reuter" remained unsettled, and requested that I would recoup the amount to him. Aware that my predecessor had distinctly refused to recognize the emigrants despatched by the " Fritz Reuter" as Government emigrants, and that the question of their ultimate disposal was referred by him to the Government in his letters of the 10th May, No. 364, and of the 17th May, No. 377, I have taken no notice of Mr. Kirchner's request for a settlement of his claim on this account. But it seemed to me that the time had come when it was necessary to consider the whole question of his relation to the Government and to this department. My predecessor had, at the time of the despatch of the " Fritz Reuter," informed him that his powers as Agent had ceased, and that his services were only continued for the purpose of winding-up tho affairs of the agency. On inquiry I found that at the time when his letters reached my hands there were really no further functions for him to discharge. My predecessor had, as you are already aware from his correspondence, especially his letters of 17th May above referred to, and 29th May, No. 382, viewed with grave suspicion and some indignation Mr. Kirchner's proceedings at the time of the despatch of the " Fritz Reuter," and in connection with the claims made upon him in regard to German contracts in general. I felt I should not be warranted in continuing his services, even on the footing on which for the last few months he had been recognized by Dr. Featherston, with the knowledge that there were now no longer any duties for a Continental Emigration Agent to discharge. Aware also, and knowing that Mr. Kirchner was aware, of the reference made to his case as one proper for special consideration and compensation in the paragraph relating to German contracts in Sir Julius Vogel's despatch to the Agent-General of 30th April, 1875, I determined, having taken the advice of the solicitors to the Government, to decline to continue any further payment of his salary as Agent, and to call upon him to submit any claim he might have for compensation under the circumstances. I enclose copies of my subsequent correspondence with him, and have to request your instructions on the subject. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, W. Tyrone Poweb, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 9. The Agent-General to Mr. W. Kirchner. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 12th July, 1876. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th of June, enclosing an account for salary and expenses for the month of June, amounting to £47 Os. 3d., and directing my attention to the fact that an account rendered by you to my predecessor, the late Dr. Featherston, on the 17th April, for disbursements amounting to £378 4s. Od. in connection with the ship " Fritz Reuter," has not been settled. I have delayed replying to your letter in order to inquire into the circumstances of both these claims. In regard to the latter, I am informed that Dr. Featherston never recognized the emigrants despatched by the " Fritz Reuter" as Government emigrants, and that an action at law is now pending in consequence, at the suit of Messrs. Sloman. I have to add that, on inquiry, I have ascertained that all business connected with Continental emigration having now for some time past completely terminated, there are no longer any duties attached to the office of Agent held by you. Under the circumstances, I do not feel that I should be warranted in continuing further payment of salary on this account, or iv recognizing you as occupying that position. I have to add that I should feel it my duty to forward, for the favourable consideration of the Government, any claim to compensation you may consider yourself entitled to, and, in view of the fact that the Colonial Parliament is at present in session, would suggest your making same with as little delay as possible. I have, &c, W. Tyrone Power, W. Kirchner, Esq., Wiesbaden. Agent-General,