©.—Ka 40,

8

CLAIMS OP THE PROVINCE OP

No. 10. Dr. Eeatheeston to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 6th March, 1871. I have the honor to address you on the subject of an arrangement made by the Deputy Superintendent of this Province during my absence, by which the General Government undertook, under certain conditions, to make temporary advances for the maintenance of some of the Departments of the Provincial Government. I find that at the end of the month of Eebruary last the actual indebtedness of the Province to the General Government amounted to about £11,000, the exact amount not being ascertainable until the accounts of the Colonial Treasury shall have been made up for that month. By the terms of the arrangement under which these advances have been made, the General Government impounds the whole of the Provincial revenue, from whatever source derived, until the whole of its claims shall be met; and as the prospective receipts will not be sufficient immediately to discharge this liability, it is evident that the Province must continue to draw upon the Colonial Treasury, if Ministers insist on a rigid adherence to the agreement referred to. I have therefore the honor to request that the present liability of the Province to the General Government may be allowed to remain for future adjustment, and that the revenue of the Province may be released from the Ist ultimo for expenditure by the Provincial Government. By acceding to this request, Ministers will not increase the present Provincial indebtedness to the Colonial Treasury, as the current revenue is sufficient to meet the current expenditure. I have, &c, I. E. Eeatheeston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 11. The Hon. W. Eox to Dr. Eeatheeston. (No. 67.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sic,— Wellington, 13th March, 1871. In reply to your Honor's letter of the 6th instant, I have the honor to transmit to you a statement of the account between the General Government and the Province of Wellington to the latest period of the accounts being made up, from which it will appear that the amount due from the Province is £18,437 16s. 7d. Before replying to your Honor's letter, I am desirous of being informed of the general financial position of the Province, and, in particular, as to the extent to which it is desired that assistance should be rendered to the Province, between the present time and the next meeting of the General Assembly ; and the manner in which it is proposed that such advances shall be repaid. I have, &c, William Eox, His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. (in the absence of Mr. Gisborne).

Enclosure in No. 11. Peovince of Wellington Br. Memorandum of Account to 31st January, 1871. £ s. d. £ s. d. Consolidated Eund AccountBalance at debit 31st January ... ... 523 4 2 Less Land Eund transferable ... ... 18 13 5 504 10 9 Separate Account—■ Balance at debit, 31st January ... ... ... 4,446 0 2 Advances in Aid— Balance at debit 31st January ... ... ... *3,544 11 2 Consolidated Loan Act Account (Ist, 2nd, and 3rd Conversions) — Accrued Interest paid on Debentures converted 2, 747 2 1 Proportion of Expenses attending Consolidation of Provincial Loans ... ... 1,030 19 7 Eourth Conversion — Accrued Interest paid on Debentures converted 240 13 4 Proportion of Expenses attending Consolidation of Provincial Loans not yet ascertained, but estimated at ... ... 141 10 0 • ——- 4,160 5 0 Manawatu Eent Account— Balance of Advances to Superintendent to pay Manawatu Eents ... ... ... 2,662 8 2 £15,317 15 3 C. T. Batkin, Treasury, Wellington, 13th March, 1871. Paymaster-General and Accountant. * A further sum of £3,120 Is. 4d. was advanced on this Account on Ist February.