PAYMENTS TO PROVINCES ACT, 1871.

D.—No. 2

19

The above sum, although standing to the credit of the " Road Boards Account," is not yet made available to the Province : I have therefore to request that you will be good enough to move the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer to issue instructions which will enable the Provincial Treasurer to recoup to the Provincial Account the sum already advanced to Road Boards. 2. That the sum of £6,779 6s. lid., less an advance of £2,000 on account of the Oamaru Dock, is now ready to be paid under section 28. That this sum will be paid to an account called the " Grant to Public Works Account," from which moneys will be withdrawn on satisfactory vouchers being produced for the expenditure, and that the specific works to which the money is to be appropriated should be designated by His Honor the Superintendent, in accordance with section 28 of the Act. Vouchers for this expenditure have already been forwarded to you, and I trust that on your representations the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer will refund the amount. His Honor the Superintendent will by this mail advise the Government of the works to which it is proposed to devote the remainder of the moiety of the subsidy accruing to this Province under section 28 of the Act. D. Reid, Provincial Treasurer.

Enclosure 8 in No. 30. Mr. T. W. Maude to Mr. Livingstone. Office of the Resident Minister for the Middle Island, Sir,— Christchurch, 24th April, 1872. Referring to "The Payments to Provinces Act, 1871," the sum of £6,779 6s. lid. was paid to the " Road Board Account " for the Province of Otago, as the portion of the subsidy due up to the 31st December last. I am now directed by Mr. Reeves to inform you that, in view of recouping to the Provincial Government advances made by it to the Road Boards in anticipation of the Colonial contribution, the General Government will take the responsibility of directing a portion of the amount now to the credit of the " Road Board Account" in the Bank, to be withdrawn in favour of the Provincial Government. The amount represented by the Provincial Treasurer (Mr. Bradshaw), in his letter of the 25th January last, as having been advanced by the Province, is £6,412 10s. lOd. To this extent, therefore, I am to inform you that the Government is prepared to arrange for withdrawal from the " Road Board Account " in favour of the Provincial Government. But it will be necessary for the Provincial Government to produce vouchers and to satisfy you of the amount bond fide advanced in anticipation of the Colonial contribution. Such amount is not to exceed that above mentioned, viz., £6,412 10s. lOd. As soon, therefore, as satisfactory vouchers to this amount have been submitted to you, you are requested to report, and upon receipt of your certificate showing the sum repayable, further action will be taken to liberate a corresponding amount from the " Road Board Account" in favour of the Provincial Account. I have, &c., Thomas W7 Maude, The Provincial Auditor, Dunedin. Secretary.

Enclosure 9 in No. 30. Mr. T. W. Maude to Mr. J. B. Bradshaw. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 3rd May, 1872. Respecting your telegram of 30th ultimo, Hon. Mr. Reeves directs me to say that action will be suspended as to proposal for releasing moneys from Road Board Account in favour of Province, but I am to point out that it was entirely at the instance of the Province that the Government endeavoured to make such arrangement. The Provincial Auditor will be communicated with. Thomas W. Maude.

Enclosure 10 in No. 30. Mr. T. W. Maude to Mr. Livingstone. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 3rd May, 1872. Hon. Mr. Reeves desires that no further action be taken in reference to the Road Board Account. See my letter, 24th ultimo. Thomas W. Maude.