B.—No. 3.

No. 4. THE SUPERINTENDENT, OTAGO, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Province of Otago, New Zealand, Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 25th June, 1864. Sir,— I have the honor to enclose the undermentioned Bills, in duplicate, passed at the last session; of the Provincial Council, which I have reserved for the signification of His Excellency's pleasure thereon, viz: — "The Otago Harbour Loan Ordnance, 1862, Amendment Ordinance, 1864." "The Otago Public Building* Loan Ordinance, 1862, Amendment Ordinance, 1864." " The Otago Loau Ordinance, 1862, Amendment Ordinance, 1864." "The Education Reserves Management and Leasing Ordinance, 1864." The passing of the three Loan Amendment Ordinances has become a public necessity, the Prrvincial Loans being undisposable at par, aud the requirement by the Province of funds to carry out existing Contracts, and to liquidate liabilities to the Bank of New Zealand being urgent. It is my intention to leave Dunedin for Auckland on the sth July, by the " Lady Bird," in order to obtain an interview with the Government relative to the present financial position of this Province. I have, &c, J. Hyde Harris, Superintendent. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary.

No. 5. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, OTAGO. Colonial Secretary's Office* Auckland, 2nd Septemoer, 1864. y IE I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter, No. 3,529, dated the 25th of June last, enclosing four Bills, passed at the last session of the Provincial Council of Otago, and which you have reserved for the signification of the Governor's pleasure thereon. His Excellency has been pleased to assent to the three undermentioned Ordinances:— "The Otago Harbour Loan Ordinance, 1862; Amendment Ordinance, 1864." "The Otago Public Buildings Loan Ordinance, 1862; Amendment Ordinance, 1864." '•The Otago Loan Ordinance, 1862; Amendment Ordinance, 1864." I return, accordingly, to your Honor copes of these three Ordinances, with such assent duly noted on each. I have to request your Honor to be good enough to authenticate, by your Manuscript signature, the duplicate copies, as well as the originals of Reserved Bills. The remaining Bill, entitled the " Education Reserves Management and Leasing Ordinance, 1864," refers to certain Lands described in the schedule annexed to an Ordinance entitled " Education Reserves Ordinance, 1864." As this latter Ordinance has not been, as far as lam aware, received from your Honor, His Excellency cannot, until it airives, be advised' to decide with respect to the Bill now under consideration. _ As the three months, within which His Excellency can give his assent to a Reserved Bill, will elapse on the 11th of October next, I have to request your Honor to forward to me copies of the " Education Reserves Ordinance, 1864," by the earliest opportunity. I have, &c, William Fox. His Honor The Superintendent, Otago.

(No. 3529.)

(No. 273.)

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