B.—No. 3.

No. 56. .THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Superintendent's Office, Southland, Ist August, 1864. Sib,— A good deal of inconvenience is experienced in consequence of the Sub-Treasurer declining to pay vouchers certified by the head of a Department and myself, in the terms of the agreement, and demanding an inspection of the contracts under which such payment was due. This, in effect, is tantamount to a distrust in the truth of the certificates. Ou one occasion, lately, the delay caused by this proceeding induced the Solicitor who had charge of the recovery of a Bill to protest it. Captain Elles, the Sub-Treasurer, informs me that he has instructions tr> pay the current expenses of the Land and Survey Department from the advances (from which he declines to pay the arrears). If this instruction is absolute you will observe, by referring to your letter of 7th June, that it is at variance with a distinct provision contained therein ; it may be, however, that your instruction is meant to come into effect only in case the Land Revenue is insuffcienc to meet the expenditure in those departments. I should be glad to see a copy of those instructions, and learn the meaning you attach to them. I have, &c, J. A. K. Menzif.s, Superintendent. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

No. 57. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 17th August, 1864. Sir,— I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the Ist instant, on the subjpct of the agreement entered into by this Government to make certain advances ot money to the Provincial Government of Southland, and to inform your Honor that your letter was referred to the Colonial Treasurer, and the Hon. the Acting Colonial Treasuter has reported that the Sub-Treasurer at Invercargill requested instructions from the Government as to paying arrears due to the Land and Survey Departments. He was directed, in reply, to pay those arrears. The General Government instructions to the Sub-Treasurer are now distinct on this subject, and authoiise him to pay the charges on Land and Survey Department Accounts, whether the Land Revenue 13 sufficient to meet that expenditure or not. I have, &c, William Fox. His Honor the Superintendent, lnvercargill.

No. 58. THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Superintendent's Office, Southland, Ist September, 1864. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of the 17th ultimo, in reply to mine of the Ist ultimo, on the subject of the agreement entered into by the General Government to make certain advanct s to the Government of this Province, and in reply to stale that there is one point in my communication of the above date to which you do not advert. It is there stated that " I understand that the Sub-Treasurer had received instructions to pay the current expenses of the Land and Survey Departments from the advances." Now, in the agreement, it is stated that those expenses shall be paid from the Land Revenue—not from the advances agreed upon—viz., £15,000 per month. You inform me that the instructions to the Sub-Treasurer are now "distinct," and authorise him to pay the charges on Land and Survey Department Accounts, whether the Land Revenue is sufficient to meet that expenditure or not ; do you, also, in those instructions, make it clear to the Sub-Treasurer that he is not to consider payments so made to form a part of the monthly advance ? I have, &c, J. A. R. Menzies, Superintendent. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

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