8

You again, so soon as any crisis takes place
in our affairs, and, in the meantime, beg
that you will accept the grateful thanks of
this Government for the prompt and hearty
aid the Provincial Government of Otago
has offered to our people.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) G. CUTFIELD,
Superintendent.

His Honor
The Superintendent of Otago,
Dunedin.

Superintendent’s Office,
Wellington, May 19, 1860.

SIR,—I have much pleasure in informing
you that the Provincial Council, at their
sitting on Wednesday last, unanimously
voted a sum of One Thousand Pounds for
the relief of their fellow-colonists at Tara-
naki.

I lose no time in enclosing you a draft
on the Union Bank at Nelson for the sum
of Five Hundred Pounds, and shall be pre-
pared to remit a similar amount very
shortly, or whenever you may advise me
that further funds are required.

I beg, on behalf of the inhabitants of
this Province, that you will have the good-
ness to convey to our fellow-settlers of Tara-
naki the assurance of our deepest sym-
pathy with them, and our warm admiration
of their gallant conduct in the field.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) I. E. FEATHERSTON,
Superintendent.

His Honor G. Cutfield, Esq.,
Superintendent,
Taranaki.

Superintendent’s Office,
New Plymouth, 29th May, 1860.

SIR,—I have the honour to return my
grateful acknowledgements on behalf of
the inhabitants of Taranaki for the sympa-
thy and liberal feeling manifested by the
Provincial Council of Wellington, as com-
municated by your letter of the 19th inst.

Our men being employed in the Militia,
and rations being furnished to all whose
necessities require them, no distress at pre-
sent exists. The time of difficulty
and privation will be at the termination of the
war, when both pay and rations will cease.
I propose, therefore, to retain the liberal
gift presented to this Province till then,
when some assistance in cash administered
with judgment to those who will have lost
all and have to commence the world anew
may prove of great and lasting advantage,
and will be fully appreciated.

I will make known to our people your
kind recognition of their exertions and

losses, and shall feel obliged by your com-
municating my thanks to the Provincial
Council of Wellington and the inhabitants
in general.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) G. CUTFIELD,
Superintendent.

His Honor
The Superintendent,
Wellington.

Provincial Secretary’s Office,
Christchurch, May 28, 1860.

SIR,—I have the honor to inform you
that several influential gentlemen in this
Province are desirous of calling a meeting
and setting on foot a plan for the purpose
of raising subscriptions for the relief of our
fellow-colonists at Taranaki. At the same
time no authentic information has arrived
as to the channel through which this relief
should be administered in order that it may
be productive of the most beneficial results.

I should feel obliged, if not troubling
you too much, by your communicating
with me on this matter by return of post.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) CHAS. R. BLAKISTON,
Provincial Secretary.

His Honor
The Superintendent,
Taranaki.

Superintendent’s Office,
New Plymouth, 15th June, 1860.

SIR,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of the 28th ult., requesting
me to acquaint you through what channel
relief should be administered to the colonists of Taranaki, so as to produce the
most beneficial results.

In reply, I have the honor to inform you
that the plan adopted by the Provincial
Government of Wellington and Otago and
by the Auckland subscribers has been to
remit, or to empower me to draw for the
funds at their disposal for my administration.

In acknowledging the receipt of the several
sums, I have described in general
terms the position of the settlers, and have
stated that I do not feel warranted in ex-
pending any portion of the funds placed in
my hands until the close of the war, unless
some unforeseen event should render an
earer distribution absolutely necessary.

Up to the present time I have been able
to meet all cases of immediate distress out
of funds advanced by the General Govern-
ment of the Colony, but I am unable to
state what the future position of our set-
tlers is likely to be, as that will depend
greatly on the action of the General As-