B.—No. 3.

No. 82. THE ASSISTANT TREASURER TO THE SUB-TREASURER, SOUTHLAND. Treasury, Auckland, 19th September, 1864. Sir,— A communication having been received from His Honor the Superintendent, Southland, respecting the demand made by the Hank of New Zealand for payment of Eight hundred and fifty-five pounds, being balance due to that Bank of the sum of £2,500, advanced to the Provincial Government under a guarantee given by certain private individuals, to enable Mr. Davies, the Railway Contractor, to pay off a number of workmen, I have received instructions to authorise upon to pay the amount. I have, &c, R. F. Porter, Assistant Treasurer. The Sub-Treasurer, Southland.

No. 83. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 2Gth September, 1864. Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of the number and date quoted in the margin, and, in reply, to inform your Honor that in compliance with your request the Sub-Trea-surer at Invercargill has been instructed to pay to the Manager of Bank of New Zealand the sum of £855, (Eight hundred and fifty-five pounds. I have, &c, William Fox, His Honor the Superintendent, Southland. i

No. 84. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 27th September, 1864. In my letter, No. 261, of the 27th ultimo, your Honor was informed that the Government hoped to be able, after the arrival of the next mail aftsr that date from England, to propose some comprehensive plan by which it would be enabled to relieve the Provincial Treasury of Southland from the pressure of its financial difficulties. This hope was based upon the anticipation that a considerable amount ot the £3,000,00U .Loan would have been negotiated, and that the General Government would have been in a position, without embarrassing the Colony, to relieve the Province of Southland. The Loan in question has not been negotiated, and the General Government has been able only to make arrangements to meet its own liabilities. , . Under these circumstances it is quite impossible at present to carry out the intention or the General Government with reference to Southland, and I greatly regret to inform your Honor that the temporary measure of relief, which is now being given to that Province, cannot be continued beyond the 20th next month (October). I have, &c, Fredk. Whitaker. In the absence of Mr. Fox. His Honor the Superintendent, Southland.

No. 43. August 30th. 1864.

77

PROVINCIAL LOANS.