B.—No. 5

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO PUBLIC DEBT

6

Act, .1867," only authorizes stoppage out of Provincial revenue for payments made on account of any services which are chargeable by law, and this sum is not made a charge by law. Taking, however, into consideration the fact that some interval of time must elapse before the provisions of " The Public Revenues Act, 1807," can be brought into practical operation, and that the precise amount now claimed, although not charged by law, is at the rate claimed to bo paid, and paid since the separation of the Provinces of Wellington and Hawke's Bay, the Government has thought it right, under these special circumstances, to make the payment of one thousand two hundred and fifty pounds (£1,250) into the Provincial Treasury of Wellington, and to direct an equal sum to be stopped out of the revenues of the Province of Hawke's Bay, and instructions have been given accordingly. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. E. W. Staffoed.

No. 18. The Hon. E. W. Stafford to His Honor D. McLean. (No. 316.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sic,— Wellington, 9th December, 1867. I have tie honor to transmit for your Honor's information the enclosed copies of a letter from the Provincial Secretary of Wellington, and of the reply thereto, relative to the payment of one thousand two hundred and fifty pounds, being the amount due on account of the share of the Province of Hawke's Bay for interest on the permanent debt of the original Province of Wellington. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Hawke's Bay. E. W. Stafford.

Ante TSos. 16 and 17.

No. 19. His Honor D. McLean to the Hon. E. W. Staffob:i>. Superintendent's Office, Sic, — Napier, 11th February, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th December, 1867, in reference to the payment of interest on the Wellington debt. Repeated efforts have been made on the part of this Province to adjust the claim advanced against it by the Province of Wellington. The Commissioners appointed by the Provincial Council of Hawke's Bay have at all. times, endeavoured to bring about a settlement, but the advances made by them have been almost entirely disregarded by the Commissioners appointed by the Provincial Council of Wellington. Under these circumstances, and feeling desirous that an equitable adjustment of this long-pending question should bo concluded, I have the honor to request that you will not make any further advances on account of the interest claimed from Hawke's Bay until a reference of the whole question of accounts between the Provinces is made to the Supreme Court, or such other tribunal as may be agreed upon. I have, &c, Donald McLean, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent.

No. 20. The Hon. E. W. Staffoed to His Honor D. McLean. (]N ro. G2.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sin,— Wellington, 29th February, 1868. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter of the 11th instant, in reference to the payment by the Province of Hawke's Bay of interest on the debt of the original Province of Wellington, and to state that a copy of your letter has been communicated to His Honor the Superintendent of that Province, with a view to arriving at some satisfactory determination of this long vexed question. 1 have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Hawke's Bay. E. W. Staffoed.

No. 21. The Hon. J. C. Richmond to His' Honor I. E. Featiieeston. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sib,— Wellington, 3rd March, 1808. I have to enclose a copy of a letter, dated the 11th February last, from His Honor the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay, on the subject of the payment by the Province of Hawke's Bay of interest on the debt of the original Province of Wellington. It is important, on obvious grounds, that the question at issue between the two Provinces should be settled at as early a date as possible, and I have to invite your Honor's attention to the matter in. the hope of attaining that object. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. J. C. Richmond (for the Colonial Secretary).

Ante No. 19.

No. 22. His Honor I. E. Fbaxhebstoit to the Hon. E. W. Staitoed. - Superintendent's Office, SlE,— Wellington, 21st April, 1868. I do myself the honor to request that you will be good enough to direct the payment to the Provincial Treasury of this Province of the sum of £1,250, being the amount due by the Proyinco