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No. 56. The Secretary to the Treasury to H. D. Bell, Esq. (No. 176.) Sir,— The Treasury, Wellington, 12th April, 1893. In reply to your letter of the 10th instant, I have now the honour, by direction of the Colonial Treasurer, to enclose two cheques drawn on the Christchurch branch of the Bank of New Zealand for the sums of £200,000 and £60,220 respectively in payment of the Cheviot Estate taken by the Government under the provisions of the Land- and Income-tax Assessment Acts, 1891-92. These cheques are countersignable on the 18th instant by Mr. Henry Cotterill, solicitor, Christchurch, upon his being satisfied that a conveyance of the property to the Crown has been duly executed. It is further understood, and has been so arranged between yourself (acting for your co-trustees) and the Government, that at the time these cheques are countersigned the trustees shall hand their cheque for the sum of £200,000 to the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Christchurch, who will thereupon deliver to the trustees a Treasury bill of even date for £200,000, having a currency of six months, and bearing interest at the rate of per cent, per annum. I have, &c, J. B. Heywood, Secretary to the Treasury. H. D. Bell, Esq., for the trustees, Cheviot Estate, Wellington. P.S.—Will you kindly arrange for the settlement of all matters before noon on the 18th instant, as the bank here has to be advised by telegraph when the transaction is fully completed.

No. 57. The Secretary to the Treasury to H. Cotterill, Esq. (No. 175.) Sir,— The Treasury, Wellington, 12th April, 1893. It being understood that your Mr. Martin will have left Christchurch before the 18th instant, I have the honour, by direction of the Colonial Treasurer, to inform you that you have been appointed to countersign two cheques drawn by me in payment of the Cheviot Estate, and for the sums of £200,000 and £60,220 respectively. These cheques are not to be made use of until the 18th instant, and before countersigning them you will please assure yourself that the conveyance of the Cheviot property to the Crown has been duly executed by the proper parties as arranged, and you will please certify to this on the voucher, which I enclose herewith. In connection with this voucher, J. shall be glad if you will obtain such acquittances as are available, and then return the voucher to me, and Mr. Bell has kindly promised to see that the remaining ones are obtained. I have, &c, J. B. Heywood, Henry Cotterill, Esq., Solicitor, Christchurch. Secretary to the Treasury.

No. 58. The Secretary to the Treasury to the Manager, Bank of New Zealand, Wellington. (No. 173.) Sir,— The Treasury, Wellington, 12th April, 1893. Referring to my letter of the 18th ultimo, I have now the honour to state that two cheques have been drawn on your Christchurch office for presentation on the 18th instant for the sums of £200,000 and £60,220 respectively, and I am directed by the Colonial Treasurer to ask you to instruct your Christchurch manager to see that at the time of the presentation of these cheques there is also handed to him a cheque for £200,000, drawn by the trustees of the Cheviot Estate, in return for which he is to deliver to the trustees the Treasury bill No. 21, which I now enclose for that purpose. The trustees' cheque for £200,000 is to be credited to the Public Account General, on the 18th instant, so that the net result of the transaction will only be a withdrawal of £60,220 from the Public Account on that date. It is understood that the Government will not be charged with exchange in connection with the transfer of these moneys between Christchurch and Wellington, and vice versd. I have, &c, J. B. Heywood, The Manager, Bank of New Zealand, Wellington. Secretary to the Treasury.

No. 59. The Manager, Bank of New Zealand, Wellington, to the Secretary to the Treasury. Sir, Bank of New Zealand, Wellington, 13th April, 1893. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. T. 93/486, enclosing Treasury bill No. 21 for £200,000, which will be duly forwarded to our Christchurch manager with the necessary instructions. I have, &c, The Secretary to the Treasury, Wellington. P. T. J. Parfitt, Manager.