Dear Sir,—With reference to your application to refer to the papers in the Waka-Maori libel case (Grindell and anor. ats. Russell), I am sorry to say that I have had a careful search made for the papers, but cannot find them.

At the amalgamation of the firms of Buller and Gully and Izard and Bell in 1886, the whole of the papers belonging to the original firm of Buller and Lewis, who were the solicitors in the above case, were transferred to the offices of the firm of Bell, Gully and Izard. In 1889 a fire occurred at the office of Messrs. Bell, Gully and Izard, and destroyed almost the whole of the contents of the room where the papers should have been, and I have no doubt but that the papers were destroyed by such fire.

In looking up the letter books of the firm of Buller and Lewis I find a letter to the Solicitor-General relating to the costs in the above matter, and I send you a copy of same as it may be of some use to you.