B.—No. 3a.

No. 27. THE COLONIAL SECRETAEY TO THE SUPEBINTENDENT, SOUTHLAnW Colonial Secretary's Office, "Wellington, 7th April, 1863. Sin, — In reply to your Honor's letter of this date, I have to inform you that the Honorable the Attorney General, to whom I referred it, is of opinion that there are certain portions of the property of the Province vested in the Superintendent which cannot bo taken in execution by the Sheriff, such as public records, muniments and papers necessary for the carrying on of the public service. But the really valuable and saleable part of the property such as railway' plant, are, in the opinion of the Attorney General, liable to be seized by the Sheriff under a Fi Fa, and the Attorney General cannot recommend any proceedings by way of resistance to such a process. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Feed. A. Weld. Southland. No. 28. THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Wellington, April Bth, 1865. Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 7th instant informing methat it is the opinion of the Attorney General that the public records, muniments, and papers of Provincial Governments necessary to carry on the public business, are not liable to be taken inexecution, but that other property is. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, John P. Tayloe. "Wellington. No. 29. THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SOUTHLAND, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETAEY. Superintendent's Office, Southland, 12th April, 1865. Sir,— I have the honor to enclose herewith, copy of a letter from Mr. J. A. Eoss, Railway Contractor, in further explanation of a communication addressed by him to Major Richardson, dated, the 28th February, containing an offer to complete the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway, to free the Government from all claims on the part of the present contractor, and to relieve the Government from interest and working expenses for five years. The proposal seems to the Provincial Government to be highly advantageous, and as the assistance required from the General Government is comparatively small. I trust that you will give the matter your most favorable consideration as in the present position of the Province the importance of the completion of this work can hardly be overrated. I have, &c, John R. Cuthbertson, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Deputy Superintendent. Wellington. Enclosure in No. 29. MR. J. A. ROSS TO THE HON. MAJOR RICHARDSON. Dunedin, February 2Sth, 1865* Sib,— Referring to our conversation at the Bluff on the subject of the unfinished portion of the " Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway", I have the honor to inform you that after giving the matter considerable and careful attention, I am prepared, if it meets with your approval, to undertake the completion of the line. It is currently reported that it is the intention of the General Government to finish the work, and I would be prepared to take their Debentures in payment of the total cost, which would be about £30,000, the line to be in working order and fit for traffic in six months from commencement. This arrangement, if carried out, would, I believe, be a considerable saving to the Government, as I would make it part of the agreement to satisfy the claims of the present contractor, D

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THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OP SOUTHLAND.