B.—No. 5

No. 4. THE SUPERINTENDENT, OTAGO, TO THE HONOBABLE THE COLONIAL SECEETAEY. Dunstan, January 12th, 1863. Sir,— I have the honor to forward the accompanying Bill, which I have reserved for the signification of the Governor's pleasure thereon : —■ "The Otago Loan Bill, 1862." I need not point out the urgent necessity of this Bill being assented to, as the demands of the Provincial Treasury are of a very urgent character. Should any slight informality occur, it may be remedied in an Amendment Bill. I have, <fec, J. Richardson, Superintendent. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary.

No. 5. THE HONOEABLE TnE COLONIAL SECEETAEY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, OTAGO. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 18th February, 1863. Sir,— I have the honor to inform you that the Bill forwarded in your Honor's letter of the 12th ultimo, intituled " The Otago Loan Ordinance, 1862," and reserved by you for the signification of the Governor's pleasure thereon, has been laid before His Excellency, who has been pleased to assent to the same. I have to direct your Honor's attention to my letter of the 6th December last, calling for certain Returns and information which are required by the Government. I trust that I need not point out to your Honor the necessity there is that the returns should be sent at once, in order that they may accompany and explain the Ordinance above alluded to, when forwarded to the Secretary of State. I herewith return to your Honor a copy of the Act above referred to. I have, dec, Alfred Domett. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago.

No. 6. THE SUPERINTENDENT, OTAGO, TO THE HONOBABLE THE COLONIAL SECEETAEY. Province of Otago, New Zealand, Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 7th March, 1863. Sir,— In acknowledging the receipt of your Despatch, No. 45, of the 18th ultimo, intimating that His Excellency has been pleased to assent to " The Otago Loan Ordinance, 1862," I. have to express my regret that the Returns and information therein alluded to have not been furnished, for the reason that your Despatch of the 6th December lias been unaccountably mislaid. May I request, therefore, that you will cause me to be furnished with a duplicate, on the receipt of which no further delay shall take place. I have, &c, J. Richardson, Superintendent. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

No. 7. THE HONOEABLE THE COLONIAL SECEETAKY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, OTAGO. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 21st March, 1863. Sir,— With reference to your Honor's letter of the 7th instant, No. 1506, on the subject of the "Otago Loan Ordinance, 1862," in which you state that the letter from this Office, of the 6th

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PROVINCIAL LOANS.