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No. 76. The Premier to the Loan Agents. Gentlemen, — Government Offices, Wellington, N.Z., 27th February, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 19th December, on the subject of the charges connected with the negotiation of the £5,000,000 loan. 2. I note that the Bank of England received payment at the same rate as in 1878, namely, ■j per cent, commission, exclusive of brokerage on amounts taken up through agents or brokers ; and that Sir Penrose Julyan, who had ceased to be one of the Crown Agents before the negotiation of the loan, was allowed a separate payment of |- per cent.; one-eighth being also paid to the department of the Crown Agents for the Colonies. 3. As your letter does not enumerate the incidental expenses, the Government are not able to compare the total cost incurred in the present instance and that incurred in negotiating any of the former loans ; but they have reason to believe that, owing largely to the less amount paid to brokers for special services, the comparison will prove to be favourable for the recent operation. I have, &c, The Loan Agents for New Zealand, London. John Hall.

No. 77. The Loan Agents to the Colonial Tbeasurer. Sib, — 7, "Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 16th January, 1880. "We have the honor to state that the following drafts drawn by the Government on the Crown Agents have been duly accepted by them, in accordance with the arrangement set forth in your letter of the 15th August last, viz.: — £100,000, matured the 29th December, 1879; £100,000, maturing the 26th January, 1880; £175,000, maturing the 26th February, 1880. We have, &c, Julius Vogel The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Wellington. (for the Loan Agents).

No. 78. The Colonial Teeasueee to the Agent-General. Stß,— Treasury, New Zealand, Wellington, 20th February, 1880. As the Treasury is not in possession of sufficient information to enable it to determine what amount will be required to meet the first payment of interest falling due in respect of the £5,000,000 loan, and it is undesirable that an order on the New Zealand Public Account should be issued and entries made for an incorrect sum, I have the honor to request that, when the time arrives for the payment of the interest referred to, you will be good enough to move the Commissioners appointed under " The Public Revenues Act, 1878," to issue an order on the bank, under section 62 thereof, for the amount required. I shall be glad if, when this letter arrives, you will telegraph the amount and due date, with the word " Interest " prefixed, whereupon an order to take the place of that to be issued by the Commissioners as above, will be prepared and forwarded. I have, Ac, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 79. The Manages, Bank of New Zealand, to the Secretary to the Treasury. Sic,— Bank of New Zealand, Wellington, Ist March, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 28th ultimo, enclosing draft on demand on our London branch for £150,000, the proceeds of which were duly placed to credit of Public Account on that date. I have, &c, George E. ToLnrEST, The Secretary to the Treasury, Wellington. Manager.

No. 80. The Agent-General to the Colonial Treasures. Sic, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 16th January, 1880. I have the honor to state that I have applied to the Commissioners appointed under " The Public Revenues Act, 1878," to issue, under section 62 of that Act, the following orders on the Bank of New Zealand, to pay to the Crown Agents, out of the New Zealand Public Account, the several amounts named, to pay off temporary advances obtained on debentures, viz.: — Order No l—f £633,500, dated 30th December, 1879, payable 31st December, 1879. „ No. 2—S[P- £154,000, dated 12th January, 1880, payable 14th January, 1880. „ No. 3—f- £95,000, dated 16th January, 1880, payable 19th January, 1880. „ No. 4—"|> £25,000, dated 16th January, 1880, payable 25th January, 1880. I have also, as one of the Commissioners, joined in the issue of the orders. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Wellington. Agent-General.