"ALL IS NOT LOST."

Through the courtesy of Mr. Snelson,. we are enabled to publish the following cheering information received from Air HalcQin.be \n reply to a telegram :.— lUh January* 1378. .. Qboege Snelson, Esq., Palmeriton. My Dear Sir, — In compliance with tho request contained m your telegram of yesterday's date, I wai ed on the Hod. Mr. Marandrew yesterday to ascertain ut whttt time it would be convenient to him to receive the depulation re the- railway route to Pal irierton, appointed by I lie public meet inj* held at Palmerston. Mr. Macandrew (.kfopined me that he was about to p,raoeed'to the- South on Monday evening or Tuesday, and at his request 1 explained the abject oi tlie deputation. Mr. JUnoandrety. th'eu informeil me that although m. I lie Public Works Kstiinat.es t he. West Coast Railway, was described as "tlie railway from Wellington to Foxton^ its route had noX- been, deA'Utely §xed oia Foxlon ; a,nd that before it was. definitely ftxetlj a cuveful surrey and enquiry as to, the relative merit s a,nd cost o.f each poiit.H nt>»nn<M»H. would he made, tW the. inlornmtion nnd guidance, of the Parliament m the. next Session, and that \t waa h\s m I mutton, before- tl\e- iiesjidn,- himself to. visit Palmeratun. and the o.th&r We-«t Coasi senlemenis,, m order to. gain a pei\«o,na\ knowledge of the country 1 and l\e suggested Mint a knowledge of this might save the deputation, the trouble uf. rowing, to WelliugJon to ses him, I thereupon, a.s.k.ed Mr. M.aeandrew to be. ao good as to give me aineinorauduin to that effect, and I how enclose llw memorandum, which will, I trust, be satisfactory to yo.u n.fl shpvyiixg the claims. UF^ed; m ifevo*. or v the route inland will have a fair consideration before the work o.t construction, of. t,|ie : We»t. Coast Line sliall be coanin,eji.ced. At the same tiind I would observe tl\at it is still open fcrihe deputation to take- I lie ftra.t available opportunity o.f iixterviewing Mr r i\(acandrew oi\ the subject i and X should sX.i'(Vig>ly ad vise that \\\e- tiin.e which will necessarily elapse before such apport unity is. likely 10 be afforded should be employed m gaining .further iiironnatiou aa to the me 1 its of the route we prop ise, m order to assist- Mr. Macandrew and the Assembly m arriving at. a right corvlusiorii and m giving, the settlers ot the upper district a fuller opportunity of expressing their, opinion, b^ petition, to the Government. 1 remain, sfpui*i very truly, . ■ ; A,. FbLLBl' LIALCOMIE. P.S. — I nmit te^ to. m,ention, that the rojite by the Kaiwarrawarra streSm to the Porirua hart)oi\ and thence over the Pukeroa ridge out to the- coast south o.f Pih.aha.riki, is under survey,, an,d i* UKe!,Y to be. the route adopi ed 1 (ha height o.f (lie Pukerua. saddle being less thu.n2.iU feel., aad. (he gradients up l-.ie Kaiwarra stream, and sule by side by the Poriru,a road, bein^ nowhere 1 more than 1 m 50, and only for a ahor( disi tt^uce a^ steep as that, A.F.H..