From H.E. Partridge & Co.
Tobacco Merchants, General Importers & Manufacturers' Agents
Established 1873.

H.E.P.
Cable Address:
"Partridge, Auckland."
P.O. Box 14. Telephone 380

Auckland, N.Z.
7th. March, 1906

Dear Mr. Hamilton,

By yours of the 28th. ult., I note that the N.Z. Government consider Ten thousand pounds too high a price for my collection of pictures.

I am at a loss to understand how they could arrive at such decision, seeing that no member of the Government, nor anyone else, for that matter, has seen the full collection. Besides, I have been assured that, if I send the Collection to Christie's in London, they would realize double, and perhaps treble, the value I have asked.

My principal reason for thinking of disposing of the Collection is the fact that my lease of the premises, where I have had the Collection on free view for the past five years, expires about the end of 1908. I cannot afford to rent or build other suitable premises, therefore must dispose of the Collection, here or elsewhere.

On several occasions, I have been offered considerable sums, by gentlemen connected with large English, American, and European Art Publishing firms and Photographers, for the right of reproducing these pictures, but knowing that I would some day have to part with the Collection, and also that the intact Copyrights, constituted a considerable part of their value, I have up till now refused all such offers. For the foregoing reason, I regret being unable to give you permission to have copies painted for your Museum

With yourself, I regret that I was away from Auckland at the time of your visit. When you are again contemplating coming North, I hope that you will drop me a line, so that I may, if possible, have the pleasure of meeting you here.

With best regards,
Believe me,
Faithfully yours,
[H.E. Partridge]