B.—No. 3a

nignment of certain items of property specified in the letter accompanying the Deed. Captain Elles proceeds to the Bluff this morning to take formal possession. 10.30 a.m.—There is as yet no answer to my telegram to Messrs. Prendergast and Co. about M fKenzie's affair. I hare, &c, Jjro. P. Taylob. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, Superintendent. "Wellington. No. 70. THK COLONIAL SECBETAET TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SOUTHLAND. No. 266. Colonial Secretary's Office, * Wellington, 29th June, 1865. Sir,— I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter of the 21st instant and of tho following day, reporting that you had drawn on the Colonial Treasurer for the sum of ono thousand pounds (£1,000) for the purpose of paying certain claims in connection with the Provincial^steamer "Southland." In reply, I have to express the.extreme regret of the General Government that your Honor should have availed yourself of an authority to draw on the Colonial Treasury given to you for a special purpose, and drawn on it for the purpose of relieving the Provincial Government of Southland from another embarrassment. The Government has only consented to protect your Honor's draft on the understanding that the steamer "Southland" will be included in the transfer to the General Government, and will await orders to be sent on to Wellington or elsewhere for sale, if thought necessary, in order to reimburse the Colony for this and other advances. I have further to inform your Honor that the unexpected and unauthorized demand thus made on the Colonial Treasury on behalf of the Province of Southland will preclude the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer from being able at present to remit the sum of eight hundred pounds (£800) for the Bluff and Invercargill Telegraph. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, J. C. Richmox-j. ■Southland. No. 71. THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND, TO THE HON. THE COLONIAL SECBETAHT. Superintendent's Office, Southland, Ist July, 1865. Sib — In reference to my letter to you of the 22nd ultimo, I have the honor to inform you thai; the tug steamer "Southland" was included iv the deed of assignment of certain Provincial Government property to the General Government. This steamer is now handed over to the Sub-Treasurer (Captain Elles), and that gentleman lias appointed the engineer on board to act as his attorney. I have, &c, Jno. P. Tatlob, The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, Superintendent. Wellington. No. 72. THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHLAND, TO THE HON. THE COLONIAL SECBETABT. General Government Electric Telegraph, N.Z. —Telegraph No. 22, to be transmitted t Wellington via Dunedin, was presented for transmission at Invercargill, at 9 o'clook. Station, Dunedin, July sth, 1865. Will the General Government consent to our selling the p.s. "Southland" to the Canterbury Government for a sum covering her cost and expenses ? Send telegram from Lyttelton by first steamer. We cannot advantageously lease her without running too great a risk. J. P. Tatlob, Superintendent, The Honorable the Colonial Secretary.

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