B.-No. 3.

under the alterations of some parts that have been improved. I have every reason to believe that the whole work will be completed and open for traffic in July, it will therefore be apparent that a hesitation on your part to advise the assent of the Governor will have a most injurious effect on the credit of the Province, which is liable for this extra sum. The same remark is equally applicable to the Loan for £120,00 U. This Loan is applicable to liquidate debts already incurred almost exclusively for Roads. The exact sum on the 10th February was £96,000. The balance was added in order to make provision for meeting the excess of expenditure over the revenue for the current year in such away as would meet with the approbation of the Colonial Treasurer, and that balance alone, namely, £24,000, would be permitted to be applied (and only in case that the revenue did not exceed the expectation of the Provincial Treasurer) to meet current expenditure, a proceeding- which is rarely prudent but which may not be unjustifiable when the works to which it (this part of the Loan) is applied are of a permanent and reproductive character. Tracings of two blocks of land, set apart for the two loans, were forwarded to you on the 14th ultimo, and I trust that no difficulty will be experienced in obtaining the Governor's assent to the two Bills. I have, &c, J. A. E. Meinzes, . Superintendent. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

No. 27. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 27th April, 1864. Sir,— I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter of the 6th instant, on the subject of the Loans proposed to be raised by the Province of Southland. Your Honor will have seen from my letters, dated respectively 20th and Bth ultimo, that the General Government did not feel themselves justified in advising His Excellency the Governor to assent to the "Debentures Ordinance. No. 2, 1864," and the "Appropriation Ordinance, No. 2, 1864." In my letter, dated 6th of this month, I have informed your Honor that the "Debentures Ordinance, No. 1, 1864," and the "Appropriation Ordinance, No. 1, 1864," will be assented to upon the General Government learning from the Receiver of Land Revenue that the land proposed to be set apart as security for the Loan referred to in these two latter Bills is of sufficient value, I have, &c, William Fox. His Honor the Superintendent, Southland,

No. 28. THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Superintendent's Office, Southland, 6th February, 1864. Sir,— I have the honor to request that the Ordinances named in the margin passed by the Provincial Council of Southland in its fifth session, and forwarded for the Governor's pleasure thereon on the 16th, 19th, and 22nd of October, respectively, may be returned if His Excellency's assent has been obtained thereto. I have, &c, J. A. R. Meinzes, Superintendent. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

Oreti Railway Ordinance, 1863 Appropriation Ordinance, No. 2, 1863. Oreti Railway Ordinance, 1863.

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