!>.—No. 2,

6

PAPEES RELATING TO THE

No. 5. His Honor T. B. Gillies to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sjr,— Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 18th December, 1871. Referring to your Circular No. 65, I have the honor to inform you that the Provincial Government "desire to take advantage of section 28 of the Payments to Provinces Act to the extent of .£7,718. This is some £4,500 less than the half of the Road Board amount; but the Provincial Government desire to trench as little as possible on the Road Board vote, consistently with their being able to carry out other necessary works. The permanent and public works, repayment of which to the above extent is desired, are as follows : — £ s. d. Water supply to Grahamstown and Shortland, just about completed. Amount voted by Provincial Council in Schedule of Appropriation Act, 1871. (Considerably greater amount spent.) .. .. .. .. .. 2,500 0 0 Tokatea Tramway, completed and in work. Amount voted as above. (Considerably greater amount spent.) .. .. 2,500 0 0 Expended during past year in erection of Sandspit and Bean Rock Lighthouses, under vote of Appropriation Act, 1870, and renewed in 1871 under the head of liabilities for 1870. The original vote was £2,500, but of this is only claimed what was actually spent during the current year .. 1,800 0 0 Henderson's Creek Bridge .. .. .. .. 395 4 0 Kumeo Bridge .. .. .. .. .. 130 0 0 (The two last items are included in the vote of Appropriation. Act, 1871, Roads and Works North of Auckland.) Botany Bridge .. .. .. .. 117 0 0 Mungamungaroa Bridge . . .. .. .. 275 16 0 (These two items are included in the vote for Roads and Works South of Auckland.) £7,718 0 0 There are some £6,000 or £8,000 more of similar works which might be fairly claimed, but as the foregoing undoubtedly come within the definition in section 28, and are sufficient to place the Provincial finances in a proper position, I trust there will be no difficulty in at once allowing these amounts. I have, &c, Thos. B. Gillies, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent.

No. 6. The Hon. W. Gisborne to his Honor T. B. Gillies. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 23rd April, 1872. I have the honor to inform you that the sum of £7,718 has this day been remitted to the credit of the " Grants for Public Works Account," in compliance with the recommendation made in your Honor's letter of the 18th December last; and that, out of the balance of the moiety due for permanent public works, the sum of £1,403 16s. 9d. has been remitted to the Road Boards Account ; while the remainder, £3,040 12s. 3d., will be placed to that account on the 30th June next. These amounts would have been remitted at an earlier date but for the impression that the Colonial Treasurer had made some other arrangement during his visit to Auckland at the early part of the year. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. W. Gisborne.