8.—19.

2

Enclosure 1 in No. 1: A.—Sinking Fund Commissionebs' Account. Office of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, Brougham Street, 11th August, 1894. £ s. d. Pace-value of bonds held .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28,050 0 0 Cash in Bank New Zealand .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 413 14 11 Ist May, 1894, coupons owing .. .. .. .'. •• •• •• 841 10 0 Ist November, 1894, when due .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 841 10 0 £30,146 14 11 Trust Account in hand .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £6,573 2 0* * This will pay the May, 1894, coupons in full and costs of remitting to London. C. Rennell, Secretary.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. B.—New Plymouth Habboub Board.—Memobandum fob Chaibman. Rateable Value, New Plymouth Harbour Rate produced. Eating District. Valuation Roll, 1886 .. £1,355,092 .. £_,23_ 13s. 3d. \ Including Crown and Native lands 1889 .. £1,997,320 .. £6,241 12s. 6d. \ rates. 1891 .. £2,336,556 .. £7,301 14s. 9d. Without Crown and Native lands rates .since withdrawn..

Land Revenue.

No. 2. The Secretary to the Treasury to the Chairman, New Plymouth Harbour Board. Sib, — The Treasury, Wellington, 31st August, 1894. I have the honour, by direction of the Colonial Treasurer, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant, representing the financial difficulties under which your Board is labouring, and applying to the Government to assist them to reduce the annual charge for interest, either by guaranteeing a 4-per-cent. conversion loan, or by lending trust funds to effect the same operation, purchasing the outstanding bonds not held by the Sinking Fund Commissioners. In reply I am to inform you that your representations have been carefully considered by the Government, who, it must be remembered, are placed in a very responsible position in connection with local authorities who ask for assistance, inasmuch as it is manifestly impossible for the Government to take upon itself the enormous existing liabilities of many kindred Boards, and it would be invidious to assist any particular body while refusing assistance to other bodies having equally strong claims upon the Government. While, therefore, fully recognising the earnest endeavour made by your Board to provide remittances of interest for the London bondholders, the Government regret they cannot see their way to give effect to the proposals of the New Plymouth Harbour Board. I have, &c, The Chairman, New Plymouth Harbour Board, Jas. B. Heywood, New Plymouth. Secretary to the Treasury.

No. 3. The Agent-General to the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., sth October, 1894. Memorandum to the Hon. the Premier. Council of Foreign Bondholders. I beg leave to transmit herewith, for the information of the Government, copy of a communication I have received from the Secretary of the Council of Foreign Bondholders referring to an announcement of a proposed issue of stock for the purpose of making advances to settlers in the colony, and expressing the disappointment and regret of the Committee thereon. W. B. Perceval.

Year. Rates collected. March Quarter. June Quarter. September Quarter. December Quarter. Totals. 1887. 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 2,759 7 2 7,485 4 8* 7,285 12 2+ 5,129 9 6 5,912 19 8} 6,202 14 6 7,078 1 6 1,498 13 9 1,675 16 5 995 12 10 989 16 6 1,237 19 8 2,196 15 1 1,943 18 9 2,600 14 7 451 4 0 520 15 11 406 14 10 767 14 9 1,179 1 10 1,213 3 11 853 19 4 1,343 6 7 1,288 10 4 994 13 5 1,381 6 8 1,074 12 6 1,776 18 9 2,591 1 7 2,136 19 10 810 9 9 640 5 3 397 0 11 894 4 8 1,124 7 7 1,179 4 0 1,432 13 4 4,048 17 10 3,831 11 0 3,180 15 3 3,726 8 5 5,318 7 10 7,180 4 7 6,367 11 3 3,944 1 2 37,597 17 4 13,139 7 7 6,736 1 2 11,244 3 1 6,478 5 6 * Includ: _!74618s. id., ing £2,230 16s. 5d., Cr- , Crown and Native li Plymouth, 13th Au ; •own and Native lands rates, ands rates. 1- Including £2,200, Crown ,nd Native lands ral ;es. t Including New _ igust, 1894. C. Rennej jl, Secretary.