B.—No. 3.

No. 23. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND. Colonial Secretary's Office, "Auckland, Blh March, 1864. Sir,— Referring to my letter, No. 40, of the 20th ultimo, on the subject of further loans proposed to be raised by the Province of Southland, for Railway purposes, I have to inform your Honor that the General Government, after a careful consideration of the malter, are of opinion that the utmost extent to which they can reasonably be expected to sanction a further Loan would be to authorize a sum sufficient to pay all the cost of completing the Railways in Southland sanctioned by the Legislature io far as that cost has been incurred or contracted for. It appears to the General Government that it would be a wholly unjustifiable proceeding to incur debt for current expenditure and to pay off such debt by loan. The General Government, except in the greatest emergency, could uot sanction such a course. It must also be understood that a sufficient quanlity of Crown Land is set apart in the Province of Southland as a security, to cover the whole of the liabilities incurred in the way of loan. 1 have, &c, WILILAM FOX. His Honor the Superintendent, Southland.

No. 24. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 31st March, 1864. Sir,— With reference to my letter No. 66, of the Bth instant, in the commencement of which, in referring to previous correspondence, the words " Railway purposes" are employed, 1 shall fee] obliged if you would cause the words "and other public works" to be inserted immediately after the word " Railway," the latter word only comprising a portion of the objects for which the Loans are proposed to be raised. I have, &c, William Fox. His Honor the Superintendent, Southland.

No. 25. THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Superintendent's Office, Southland, 20th April, 1864. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 99, 31st of March, and in reply to inform you that I have caused the words "and other Public works" to be inserted immediately after the word "Railway" in your communication of the Bth ultimo, as requested. I have, &c, J. A. R. Menzies, Superintendent. TU« Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

No. 26. THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Superintendent's Office, Southland.. 6th April, 1864. Sia,— I have the honor to acknowledge the recsipt of your letter, as per margin, with reference to farther Loans proposed to be raised by the Province of Southland, for Railway purposes, and to inform you that I have written on the subject in previous communications. The extra cost on the Bluff Railway is to pay for work that has been contracted for, and the work wbieh has been for some time in progress is absolutely essential to the proper woiking of the Una

(No. 66.)

(No. 99.)

March 8 th, 1864.

41

PROVINCIAL LOANS.