£50,000, ETC., AMONG THE ROAD BOARDS

G.—No. 22.

9

financial year 1871-72, and to recommend that the amount be divided equally among the five existing Road Boards. I have, &c, James B. W temyss (for the Superintendent), The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Provincial Secretary.

No. 9. His Honor W, Rolleston, to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Christchurch, Canterbury, Ist July, 1871. In reply to your circular letter of the 21st June, relative to the apportionment of the funds payable under " The Payments to Provinces Act, 1870," to the Province of Canterbury, I have the honor to forward to you, a statement showing the apportionment which, with the advice of my Executivc_ Council, I recommend for the financial year 1871-72. For this purpose, I have estimated the proportion of the £50,000 a year available for this Province, on the basis of population, as shown in the returns of the late census; and in the recommendations I have made, I have been guided by the considerations suggested by you, in your circular letter of Ist October, 1870. The special conditions which I would recommend should attach to the payment in respect of several of the districts arc as follows :— Of the amount appropriated to the Hcathcote Road Board, .£5O to be devoted to the Dyer's Pass Road, communicating with Banks Peninsula. Of the amount appropriated to the Halswell District, not less than ;€l5O to be devoted to the main line of road to Akaroa. The amount appropriated to the Little River Road Board, to be devoted to the main line of road to Akaroa. This amount to be expended primarily in opening the communication along Lake Forsyth, through the bush, with the portion of the road now being constructed by the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board. The amount appropriated to the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board to be devoted to the additional works on the main line of road, between Barry's Bay and Little River. The road for which this appropriation is suggested is the line of road partially formed, which, as previously stated, will open up a district, which has hitherto had very imperfect overland communication with the plains. The amount appropriated to the Pigeon Bay Road Board, to be devoted to further works on the road from Pigeon Bay to Akaroa. It is probable that some of the Road Board districts will, under the provisions of the Road Ordinance of this Province, be subdivided, and to meet this contingency, it should be a condition of the vote in each case, that in the event of separation the vote will be divided as may be determined by the Superintendent, with the approval of the Minister for Public Works. I have, &c, Wm. Rolleston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent.

No. 10. Mr. H. H. Lahman, to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir, — County Chairman's Office, Hokitika, 22nd August, 1.871. Referring to your circular No. 34, 21st June, 1871, requesting me to propose a scheme for the division among the Road Boards of the sum payable to them for the current year under " The Payments to Provinces Act 1870," I have the honor to submit the following plan of distribution for your consideration, which I consider to be based upon the equitable requirements of the districts namely : — Paroa Road Board, twelve-sixtieths. Arahura Road Board, twelve-sixtieths. Kanieri Road Board, eleven-sixtieths. Totara Road Board, fifteen-sixtieths. Okarito Road Board, ten-sixtieths. I have, &c., H. H. Lahman, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Chairman of County Council.

No. 11. Mr. H. H. Lahman to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sin, — County Chairman's Office, Hokitika, 22nd August, 1871. Referring to ray letter (No. 728, 22nd August, 1870) proposing a scheme for the division among the various Road Boards of the County of the sums accruing to them for the 3