B.—No. !

No. 1. The Superintendent, Napier, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sm, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 10th February, 1865. I have the honor to request that, before any further directions are given to the Eeceiver of Lund Eevenue, to retain from the Land Eevenue of this Province the usual amount of interest which is payable under a resolution of the General Assembly, by half-yearly instalments of £1250 on account of the Wellington Debt, the adjustment of which is still pending, you will have the goodness to cause certain advances, as shewn by the Statements herewith enclosed, and amounting to £2,233, made by the Government of this Province on account of the Government of Wellington, to be taken into account of any future interest due by this Province in respect of the aforementioned debt. I beg to state for the information of the Government, that the advances as shewn in No. 1 Statement, amounting to £1013 10s. 4d., now sought to be recovered, are chiefly refunds of deposits for runs on land over which the native title has not yet been extinguished, and for which refunds the Government of this Province (setting aside the question as regards the illegality of receiving such deposits) is in no way liable, they having been paid into the Provincial Treasury of Wellington. In No. 2 Statement, the advances amounting to £295, comprise refunds on deposits made on application for ss. land, and which deposits were paid into the Provincial Treasury at Wellington, the Commissioner of Crown Lands having subsequently refused to certify to the land applied for under that designation. In No. 3 Statement will be found the amount of £325, still liable to be refunded to the parties therein named, the amount of deposits on land over which also the native title has not yet been extinguished were received from those gentlemen, and have been paid into the Provincial Treasury of Wellington. The several vouchers in support of the refunds made are herewith forwarded. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Donald M'Lean, Superintendent. No. 2. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetabt to the Superintendent, Napier. Si it, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 22nd March, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (10th February, 1865) respecting 1 lie debt between the Provinces of Wellington and Hawke's Bay. With a view to enable the General Government to decide on the question raised by your Honor, a copy of your letter and the vouchers forwarded therewith have been forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent of Wellington, with a request that he will favor the Government with any remarks which he may think it desirable to make. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Napier. Feed. A. Weld. No. 3. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to the Superintendent, Wellington. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 22nd March, 1865. I have the honor to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a letter, dated the 10th February, on the subject of debt between the Provinces of Wellington and Hawke's Bay, and also the vouchers received therewith, and to request your Honor to be good enough to favor the Government with any remarks which you may think it desirable to make thereon. I have to request you to return the vouchers to this office. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. Feed. A. Weld. No. 4. The Deputt-Supebintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir,— Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 27th March, 1865. I do myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant, covering a letter from the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay, in reference to certain refunds stated to be due to that Province, and requesting that the same may be taken into account of any future interest due by Hawke's Bay, in respect of the apportionment of the debt owing to the Wellington Province. In reply, I beg very respectfully to observe, that these are only a portion of many matters of long standing account between the Province of Hawke's Bay and Wellington, and that until the principle ou which all these accounts are to be adjusted has been settled, I trust His Excellency's Government will not feel itself authorized to sanction any interference with the payment of interest settled by the Legislature, and acted upon during the last few years. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. C. W. Schultze, Deputy-Superintendent. No. 5. The Deputy-Superintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sib, —* Superintendent's Office, Wellington, sth April, 1865. I do myself the honor to request that the Government will be pleased to cause the sum of £1250, due from the Province of Hawke's Bay, on account of interest on the permanent debt of the

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE APPORTIONMENT OF THE PUBLIC DEBT OF THE PROVINCES OF WELLINGTON AND HAVRE'S BAY.