B.—No. 3.

would receive your favorable consideration, I rely with confidence on your advising that this group of Bills should receive the assent of His Excellency the Governor. As time is a most important element in this matter I forward these Bills on being passed, and while the Provincial Council is still in Session, and I trust that you will have the goodness to return them by the next mail. I have, &c, J. A. R. Menzies. Superintendent. The Hon. ihe Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

No. 7. THE COLONIAL SKCKEARY TO THE SUPERINTEN ENT, SOUTHLAND. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 14th December, 1860., Sir,— Referring to the Debentures Ordinances. 18C3, transmitted in your letter of the 19th Oct., last, which ordinance had been passed by the Provincial Council of Otago, and reserved for the ■Governor's assent, I have to inform your Honor that His Excellency the Governor will be advised to assent to that Bill, on your Honor setting apart (as provided in the Railway Loan Bill, submitted by the Government to the General Assembly) a sufficient quantity of land as security for this Loan. I have to draw your Honor's attention to uninitiated manuscript alterations in the Bill referred to, and to request that care may be taken to avoid such irregularities in future Bills. I have, &c, William Fox. His Honor the Superintendent, Southland,

No. 8. THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Auckland, 15th December, 1863. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge yoiir letter of yesterday's (14th) date, wherein you inform me that the " Debentures Ordinance, I860," transmitted in my letter of 1 Pth October last, "which Ordinance had been passed by the Provincial Council of Otago, and reserved for the Governor's assent," and with reference to this paragraph to observe that it contains some grave mistakes. I have never transmitted any '•' Otago" Bill under such circumstances. If your observations have been erroneously applied to an "Otago" Bill, and were meant to refer to a "Southland" Bill, I shall be gratified to receive a confirmatien of the further information you give, that the Governor will be advised to assent to that Bill under certain conditions as to security. I have, &c,, J. A. R. Menzies. Superintendent of Southland. The Hon. the Coloninl Secretary, Auckland.

No. 9. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 16th December, 1563. Sir,— In reply to your letter of yesterday's date, I have to infor.n your Honor that the word "Otago" in my letter No. 416, of the 14th instant, was a clerical error, and that the word " Southland" should have been used. If you will return the letter to this office I will have the error at once rectified. I have, &c, William Fox His Honor the Superintendent, Southland. I

(No. 416.)

35

PROVINCIAL LOANS.