B.—No. 6

In pursuance of that Eeport, an Act has been paased by the Provincial Council to the same eft'oct as the "Wellington Loan Adjustment Act," with a provision however that in the event of the Commissioners not arriving at a conclusion, and agreeing thereon before the next meeting of the G-eneral Assembly, it shall be left to His Excellency the Governor to appoint a Commission to hear and decide the question. In thn event of a decision not being arrived at by the Commissioners in this matter, I have every confidence that His Excellency and his Government will take such steps as may lead to the appointment of an impartial Commission or tribunal to decide the question. I have, &e., Donald McLean, Superintendent. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

Enclosure in No. 9. 1863.—pbovinciai, council of hawke's bay. Report of the Select Committee appointed to report upon the course it is desirable should be pursued in relation to the settlement of the Wellington Debt. Appointed on the motion of Mr. McLean, April 2nd, 1863. Members: Messrs. Carter, Ormond. Ehodes, Colenso, Tiffen, and the mover. The Committee appointed to report upon the course it is most desirable should be pursued in relation to the settlement of the Wellington Debt, report as follows:— " That the Committee would recommend the passing of an Act to the same effect as the ' Wellington Loan Adjustment Act,' with a provision, that in the event of the Commissioners not arriving at a conclusion, and agreeing thereon before the next meeting of the General Assembly, that it shall be left to His Excellency the Governor to appoint a Commission to hear and decide the question. " The Committee would therefore recommend that an offer to the effect contained in the foregoing resolution be made to the Wellington Government, it being at the same time pointed out that the conference of Commissioners, as provided in the Wellington Act, would in the opinion of the Council in all probability be found insufficient for the object desired, viz., the final settlement of the question. " Your Committee would further recommend that in the event of the offer of settlement contained in the above resolution not being accepted by the Wellington Government, that the Representatives of this Province in the House of Eepresentative3 should be instructed that it is the opinion of the Council that the course which it is most desirable they should advocate should be that laid down in the above resolutions, which would, this Council believes, ensure tho early settlement of this question by a disinterested and impartial tribunal. " That the Superintendent be requested to acquaint His Excellency's Government with the terms of the Council's report upon this question, and to beg that any co-operation in their power ;nay be exerted to provide for a settlement in the manner therein proposed." Donald M'Lean, Chairman.

No. 10. THE IIONOHABLE THE COLONIAL SECBETAISY TO THE StTPEKINTENDENT, NAPIEB. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 4th May, 1863. Sih,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th April, oa the subject of the settlement of the Wellington Debt, and, in reply, to inform your Honor that his Excellency's Government is glad to see that the Provincial Council of Hawke"s Bay has at length taken steps to settle the financial question existing between that Province and Wellington. I have, &c, Eeadee Wood, In the absence of Mr. Domett. His Honoi- bhe Superintendent, Napier.

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PROVINCES OF WELLINGTON AND HAWKE'S BAY.