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£ s. d. Expenses of Mr John Lundon, agent, including salary, expenses, and residence in Samoa ... ... ... ... 326 8 6 Loss on plantations ... ... ... ... 1,800 0 0 Expenses and payments in Auckland ... ... ... 200 0 0 £2,326 8 6 To the Eight Hon. the Earl of Derby, . -* Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Auckland South Sea Island Produce Company to Sir G. W. Dcs Vceux. To His Excellency Sir G. W. Dcs Vceux, C.M.G. Her Majesty's Assistant High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. May it please your Excellency,— Auckland, 16th October, 1883. We have the honour to state that Mr. John Lundon, our agent in Samoa, writes to us under date August Bth, 1883, as follows : — "The English Consul read to me part of a letter yesterday from the Governor of Fiji, threatening me with the pains and penalties of the Order in Council, if I interfere with the Samoan Government, or with the lands of Cornwall." We would beg to say, in explanation, that our agent did not go to Samoa to interfere in any way whatever, either with the Samoan Government or with any land belonging to Mr. Cornwall. He went to take possession, on our behalf and for our benefit, of certain lands known as Faleula Magia and Lata Plantations, the property of a Samoan woman named Manaema, and leased by her to us. Our agent further states, in one and all of his reports, that Mr. Churchward, the British Consul and Deputy Commissioner there, has in every possible way tried to oppose and thwart him in his efforts to carry out the above object. We bring the statement of this fact under your Excellency's notice, as we cannot understand why we have been so unfortunate as to have failed to secure Mr. Churchwards support, which our agent solicited, and to which we believe we, as British subjects, legitimately engaged in honourable business, are justly entitled. We have, &c. (1.5.) w. SHenderson, } Man W? Directors.

Mr. Wallington to the Auckland South Sea Island Produce Company. Western Pacific High Commission. Gentlemen, — Government House, Suva, Fiji, 29th October, 1883. I am directed by the Acting High Commissioner to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th October, 1883, and I am to inform you, in reply, that the question as to the legality of the sale of the interest in lands in Samoa under an execution issuing from the High Commission Court is now under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government; but that, pending its settlement (though the unavoidable delay is a subject for regret), no disturbance of the present possession can be permitted, except under the order of a Court of justice. I have, &c. E. W. Wallington, > For Secretary to the High Commission. The Directors of the Auckland South Sea Island Produce Company.

The Auckland South Sea Island Produce Company to Sir G. W. Dcs Vosux. To His Excellency Sir G. W. Dcs Vceux, C.M.G. Her Majesty's Acting High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. May it please your Excellency,— Auckland, November 13th, 1883. We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 29th ultimo, and have duly considered it. In reply, we have only to say that we have nothing to do with the question of legality of the sale of interest in lands in Samoa to any person whatever. Our lease applies to Samoan land, the property of Samoans, and the right of these Samoans so to deal with these lands has never up to the present time been contested in any Court of justice whatever. We therefore again formally solicit your aid to enable our agent to perform his duties in Samoa, which the British Deputy Commissioner there prevents his doing, and thus avoid incurring further expenses, which may form an involved matter for settlement. We also beg to acquaint your Excellency that we have laid all the details of the action the High Commissioner has taken in this matter before the Convention in Sydney, through Mr. Whitaker, the late Premier of this Colony, and one of our New Zealand representatives. We have, &c. H. W.SHender S on, } Mana Sing Directors.

The Auckland South Sea Island Produce Company to Sir G. W. Dcs Vceux. Sir G. W. Dcs Vceux, C.M.G. Her Majesty's Actifig High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. Sir, — Auckland, 17th December, 1883. We have the honour to inform your Excellency that our agent, Mr. John Lundon, returned to New Zealand from Samoa by the " Penguin," via Fiji. He found that the purpose for which he was sent was entirely frustrated by the action taken by Her Britannic Majesty's Deputy Commissioner,