B.—No. 3.

adverse state of the weather, and other circumstances over which I bad no control ; I have thus been prevented from testing the information I have gathered on the subject by personal examination in time to report by this mail. I purpose however to carry out my intention of visiting the locality in a day or two if possible, and shall report the result by an early opportunity. In the meantime I have the honor to state, that the opinion I have formed with regard to the Land in Question, from information drawn from sources on which I can rely —is, that while a portion of it—from 12,000 to 15,000 acres—is comparatively worthless,—being swampy and honey-combed, —the greater part of it is of fair average value and a considerable portion equal if not superior—to the best Land in the Province. I have, &c, A. J. Elles, Receiver of Land Revenue for Southland. The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer.

No. 16. THB RECEIVER OF LAND REVENUE SOUTHLAND, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Office of Receiver of Land Revenue, Invercargill, 4th March, 1864. Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the sth ultimo, referring to a former letter from you of 21st Dec, on the subject of the value of land to be set apart as security for the Debentures under the " Debenture Ordinance No. 2, 1863," and requesting me to reply to tlie lastnamed letter as early as possible. My letter of sth February, containing a report on the value of the land in question—based on iuformation drawn from what I considered reliable sources—will have been received by you by last mail. In that letter I also stated my intention, at an early date, of testing, by personal inspection, the truth of the information on which the report therein contained was based. I have now the honor to report that I have carried out that intention, and see no reason to alter the opinion formerly expressed by me. I have ridden over a considerable portion of the Land, and enclose a sketch, which will give a general idea of its quality and value. As there shewn, the Land between the Opio aud the Aparitna River is very superior. A belt of good Land rurjs along the Eastern bank of the Aparima, and the Western bank of the Oreti ; the area comprised within these belts is an extensive plain, well grassed, but of the quality of which I could of course form only a very general idea, as it contains patches of swamp and crab holes, interspersed with good Land, which made riding over it impracticable ; but I have no hesitation in expressing my opinion that it will be found to contain as fair an average of good land as other areas, in this Province, of the same extent ; though, being entirely destitute of Bush, it may possibly not be immediately marketable. The portion marked " Waimatuk Moss" ii utterly worthless. I have, &c, A. G. Elles, Receiver of Land Revenue. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

No. 17. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 24th March, 1864. Sir,— Referring to previous correspondence on the subject of setting apart a sufficient quantity of land as security for the loan authorised to be raised in the " Debentures Ordinance, No. 2, 1863," I have to inform your Honor that the land, amounting to 68,400 acres so set apart by your Honor, has been reported by the Receiver of the Land Revenue in Southland as of sufficient value for such security. I have, &c, Wm. Fox, Colonial Secretary. His Honor the Superintendent, Southland.

(No- 14-64.)

38

PAPERS RELATING TO