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Me. Lewis. —The detailed accounts referred to in your memorandum of Ist August, 1879, attached, ought to be procured. I should like to be informed as to the actual services for which the payment of £300 was made.—John Betce. '

Me. Moepeth.—Please write at once f o Mr. Sievwright, and ask him to bo good enough to furnish, as soon as possible, an account in detail of the expenditure of the sum of £300 paid to him on 2nd August last, as per voucher attached, and the actual service for which the payment was made.—T. W. Lewis.—lo/10/79.

Mr. Lewis to Mr. Sievwright. . Sir,— Native Office, Wellington, 10th October, 1879. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, to ask you to be good enough to furnish, as soon as possible, an account in detail of the expenditure of the sum of £300 paid. to you through the Treasury on the 2nd of August last, as part costs of legal advice to and for the'Ngatiawa and Taranaki Natives in regard to their lands on the West Coast, and the actual services for which the payment was made. I have, &c, T. W. Lewis, W. Sievwright, Esq., Solicitor, &c, Wellington. Under Secretary.

Mr. Sievweight to Mr. Lewis. Sib,— Wellington, 11th October, 1579. 1 have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your communication of yesterday's date, asking me to furnish you, as soon as possible, with an account in detail of the expenditure of the sum of £300 paid to me through the Treasury on 2nd August last, as part costs of legal advice to and for the Ngatiawa and Taranaki Natives in regard to their lands on the West Coast, and the actual services for which the payment was made. In reply, I beg to state that, as I am employed by, and received my instructions from, Hoani Nahe, and am not employed or instructed by your department or by the Government, I think the proper course is to refer you to Hoani Nahe himself, who procured the sum in question towards costs which he was incurring in connection with Native claims. The money was only uplifted by me as his agent, and by his desire. He can give you the information you ask for; and, if he wishes it, I shall at once supply you with all the information I possess. You have not explained why you desire an account, and it is certainly a peculiar and unusual request to make to a solicitor acting for another person. The business towards the costs of which the sum was granted has only begun, and, so far as I can judge, it is pretty certain to prove both laborious and expensive. I have, &c, T. W. Lewis, Esq., Under Secretary, Native Office. • W. Sieywright.

Me. Lewis. —Telegraph to Hoani Nahe for particulars of service, and write to Mr. Sievwright that the amount does not apipear from the voucher to have been paid to him as solicitor to a private person, but as one who was himself to render the service.—John Betce. —13/10/79.

Me. Davies.—Please telegraph urgently to Hoani Nahe.—T. W. Lewis. —13/10/79. Accordingly.—Telegram No. 909.— G. H. D.—l 3/10/79.

(Telegram.) Grahamstown, 16th October, 1879. The services performed by Sievwright and Eees were to make arrangements respecting the reserves consented to by the Government for the Natives of Taranaki who are now in prison ; and, when a Commission is appointed to inquire into the troubles at Taranaki, Mr. Eees and others will act as lawyers for me for Taranaki—for I represented Taranaki; and that is why I asked the Government to show me consideration, and give me money to retain the services of a lawyer for my people of Taranaki. The Under Secretary, Native Department. Hoa^i Nahe.

Hon. Native Ministee.—This is the reply to the telegram sent by your direction to Mr. Nahe. You instructed me not to write to Mr. Sievwright until after its receipt. Shall I write now in accordance with your minute of 13th instant on 79/4122 ?—T. W. Lewis.—l 7/10/79. Approved.—John Betce.

Me. Moepeth.—Please write to Mr. Sievwright accordinglv.—T. W. Lewis.—l 7/10/79. W. Sievwright, No. 792.-17/10/79.

The Under Secretary, Native Department, to Mr. SievwrighT. Slß,— Native Office, Wellington, 17th October, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant with reference to the services for which the sum of £300 was paid to you through the Treasury on the 2nd August last, and, in reply, am directed by the Hon. the Native Minister to inform you that the amount does not appear from the voucher to have been paid to you as solicitor to a private person, but as one who was himself to render the service, and to ask you to be good enough to supply the information applied for in my letter of the 10th instant. I have, &c. T. W. Lewis, W- Sievwright, Esq., Solicitor, Wellington. Under Secretary.

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