D.—2.

46

" Fritz Reuter " emigrants, amounting to £378 45., the reimbursement of which was refused on the plea that I had acted against the orders which I had received. As the whole correspondence between the late Agent-General and myself is in your office, I shall be quite content to leave you to judge whether I deserve any blame in the matter. But as I have been put to great inconvenience through having to advance the above amount for so long a time, I most respectfully request an early investigation. I shall be most happy to give every information which may be required with respect to Sloman's matters, and would willingly tender my services to assist in an amicable arrangement. I have the honor also to request that you would kindly take into consideration my claim for compensation in case the last contract for 4,000 emigrants is not to be executed. If you consider a personal examination desirable, I shall be ready to proceed to London at your command. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. W. Kiechnee.

No. 29. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (No. 174.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic— 16th February, 1877. I have the honor to state that, in pursuance of the instructions contained in your memorandum No. 226, of the 11th October, 1876, that I would cause a thorough investigation to be made into the whole subject of the alleged improper employment of surgeons through Mr. Moore's agency, I went through the papers very carefully shortly after my arrival in England. I came to the conclusion that I would best fulfil your wishes by placing the matter in the hands of one of the solicitors to the department, Mr. Mackrell. In adopting this course, I had in mind that he would best be able to interrogate Mr. Moore, and judge if the circumstances of the case justified any proceeding in the nature of compelling a discovery of circumstances concealed. You will observe by my letter to Mr. Mackrell the instructions I gave him and the view I took of the subject, and I trust I correctly estimated the wishes of the Government. I forward to you a copy of Messrs. Mackrell and Co.'s report. I agree with the conclusions it contains. I consider that the late Agent-General only employed Mr. Moore to an extent which the circumstances of the agency rendered desirable. I can conceive, with the great demand which there was at times for surgeons, and before the agency had so many medical men at its disposal, that Mr. Moore's services might at times have been most necessary and valuable. I also consider that no suspicion whatever attaches to any officer in the department of receiving any commission from Mr. Moore. I think the two doctors upon whose statements the matter arose must have wholly misunderstood Mr. Moore. I desire to add that I think the officers of this department have cause to be grateful to you for instructing me to have a thorough inquiry made into a subject which so affected their character. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 29. The Agent-General to Mr. Mackrell. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W, Sic, — 3rd January, 1877. I have the honor, in pursuance of a conversation I held with you, to forward to you some papers in connection with the appointment of doctors to the care of emigrant ships. It has been alleged by two at least of the doctors appointed that they were unnecessarily obliged to go to Mr. Moore to obtain their appointment from the Agent-General's office, and that they had to pay Mr. Moore a heavy fee. You will observe that Dr. Nesbitt says that he found his applications for employment unsuccessful until he applied to Mr. Moore The Government have directed me to make a thorough investigation into the matter. It seems that investigation is required in two directions : — Ist. As to the extent to which Mr. Moore's services have been used, the Government being of opinion that his employment was unnecessary. 2ud. As to the insinuations that Mr. Moore shared his commissions with clerks in the office. These insinuations consist of au assertion of Dr. Russell, covering a remark alleged to be made by Mr Moore (see letter of 21st September, 1876), and of deductions drawn by Dr. Nesbitt, from the circumstance of his being able to obtain employment through Mr. Moore when his direct applications were unsuccessful. It is quite possible (I hope I may say probable) that either Dr. Russell misunderstood Mr. Moore, or that Mr. Moore implied a payment to officers at the agency without any foundation in fact for the same. Au explanation can probably be given of the alleged preference given to applicants through Mr. Moore over those making direct application to the office. For the sake of all concerned, it is desirable that the matter should be fully cleared up, and, as agreed between us, I have to ask you personally to see Mr. Moore, and to insist on a thorough explanation from him. He should first tell you how and when he was first employed to obtain doctors for the New Zealand agency; second, what surgeons were appointed through him ; and third, let you see all the correspondence with the Agent-General's Department, especially his authority in each case in which he acted. As I shall be guided by your advice respecting any further steps to be taken, I authorize you to adopt such a course with Mr. Moore as you may deem expedient, having in view the fact that the Government have directed me to make a thorough investigation into the matter. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, J. Mackrell, Esq. Agent-General.