D.—No. 2

18

PAPEES RELATING TO THE

of the sum so advanced by it out of the £6,779 6s. 10d. now at the credit of the "Road Boards Account." I am directed to reply that the money in question having been paid away in accordance with the provisions of the Act, it is beyond the power of the Government to recall it; but lam to. suggest that the object you have in view may probably be effected by an arrangement between yourself, the Auditor, and the Chairmen of Road Boards. The advances made by the Province being proved by vouchers certified to by the Provincial Auditor, there would probably be no objection on the part of that officer to certify accounts in favour of the Provincial Treasurer for reimbursement of the sums advanced, and to sign the corresponding cheques. These cheques would require, under the Act, the counter-signature of the Chairmen of the respective Road Boards, who could scarcely object to refunding to the Province sums which had been paid to them in anticipation of the amounts accruing to them under the Payments fo Provinces Act. For the reasons already stated, Mr. Reeves regrets his inability to assist the Provincial Government out of a difficulty which can only be arranged between the parties most interested. I have, &c., Thomas W. Maude, The Provincial Treasurer, Otago. Secretary.

Enclosure 5 in No. 30. Mr. T. W. Maude to Mr. J. B. Bradshaw. Office of the Resident Minister for the Middle Island, Sir,— Christchurch, 26th February, 1872. I am directed by Mr. Reeves to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo, and to inform you that, in the case of the Province of Otago, His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to waive the conditions prescribed in " The Payments to Provinces Act, 1871." I have, &c., Thomas W. Maude, The Provincial Treasurer, Otago. Secretary.

Enclosure 6 in No. 30. Memorandum for the Provincial Treasurer. Office of the Resident Minister for the Middle Island, Christchurch, 28th February, 1872. Payments to Provinces Act, 1871, Province of Otago. The following I understand to be the action, in respect to the Province of Otago, that has already been taken. Of the sum of £27,117 7s. 6d., the proportion of subsidy payable under sections 11 and 28, £6,779 6s. lid. has been placed to the credit of the "Road Boards Account" (sections 11 to 16), and that the Governor has waived the operation of sections relating to a classification of Boards. That £6,779 6s. lid., less an advance of £2,000 on account of the Oamaru Dock Trust, is now ready to be paid under section 28. This sum will be paid to an account called the " Grant to Public Works Account," from which moneys will be withdrawn by cheque of the Provincial Treasurer, countersigned by the Provincial Auditor, satisfactory vouchers being produced for the expenditure of the money. But before lodging the money, the specific works to which it is intended to be appropriated should be designated by his Honor the Superintendent. These are to be "permanent public works" authorized by an Act of the Superintendent and Provincial Council now in force (see section 28). His Honor the Superintendent's telegram of 6th December, applying for £5,000 for Oamaru Dock Trust, is on record; but in order to be more explicit, will you be so good as to move his Honor to specify to what works, and how much to each, it is proposed to devote the moiety of the subsidy applicable under section 28. Thomas W. Maude, Secretary.

Enclosure 7 in No. 30. Memorandum by Provincial Treasurer, Otago. Payments to Provinces Act, 1871. Provincial Treasury, Dunedin, 12th March, 1872. Referring to your memorandum of the 28th ultimo, respecting the action that has been taken in reference to the Province of Otago, I note, 1. That the sum of £6,779 6s. lid. has been placed to the credit of the " Road Boards Account," and that the Governor has waived the operation of sections relating to a classification of Boards.