BETWEEN WELLINGTON AND HAWEE'S BAY.

5

B—No, 8a

No. 6. DE. FEATHERSTON TO THE COLONIAL TREASURER. Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 19th December, 1860, Sib,— > Referring to my letter of June, iB6O, and to the promise made by yourself in the House of Representatives at the close of the recent session, I have the honor again to request that you will be pleased to take steps to cause the immediate payment of the large amount due to this Province from Hawke's Bay, on account of its share of the interest on the public debt of this Province as originally constituted. The interest paid by Wellington from the date of the separation up to the present time, amounts in round numbers to between £17,000 and £18,000. According to the rule of apportionment laid down by the New Provinces Act, rather more than half of this amount should be paid by Hawke's Bay. Hawke's Bay, as you are well aware, has only paid £2,500, leaving a balance due to this Province of at least £7,000. As I shall have to remit very shortly a further sum of £4,000 for payment of the next dividend, and as you fully recognised the duty of His Excellency's Government in this matter, I trust that you will cause the immediate payment, if not of the whole of this balance, at least of the greatest part of it. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, I. E. Featherston, Auckland. Superintendent.

(No. 266.)

No. 7. MR, TANCRED TO THE SUPEUINTENDENT OF WELLINGTON. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 2nd February, 1861. Slß,— ln reply to your Honor's letter, No 266, of the 19th December last, I have to inform you that the Sub-Treasurer at Wellington will be instructed to pay to the Provincial Treasurer the sum of two thousand five hundred pounds, on account of the contribution due from the Province of Hawke's Bay for interest on the Provincial Debt. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent Henry John Tancrf.d, of Wellington. In Mr. Stafford's absence.

(No. 37.)

No. 8 DE. FEATHERSTON TO THE COLONIAL TIIEAST/RER. Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 22nd February, 1861. Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Tancred's letter of the 2nd instant, intimating that the Sub-Treasurer had been instructed to pay the Treasurer of this Province the sum of two thousand five hundred pounds, on account of the contribution due from the Province of Hawkes' Bay for interest on the Provincial Debt. I musi very respectfully beg your attention to my letter of the 19th December, in which I state that the balance due from Hawke's Bay up'tothe 30th December was £7,000, and that I should have to remit very shortly (in March or April), a further sum of £4,000 to pay the dividends due in London on the Ist July next, of which further sum of £4,000 more than half, under thy rule of apportionment laid down, ought to be contributed by Hawke's Bay. I think you will readily admit that the payment merely of £2,500 of the £9,000 then due to this Province is not a fulfilment either of the promise made by yourself in the House of Representatives, or of the pledge given to the Imperial Government by the Colonial Secretary in the Despatch which accompanied the New Provinces Act. The injustice done to this Province by His Excellency's Government not enforcing the payment of the full amount of the interest due from Hawke's Bay on account of the Provincial Debt, is too manifest to require comment. I must, therefore, again request that you will be pleased to order the immediate payment of the balance due from Hawke's Bay to this Province. I have, &c, The Honourable the Colonial Treasurer, I. E. Featherston, Auckland. Superintendent.

(No. 61.)