Appendix, H.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 2, 2 May 1874, Page 4

Appendix, H.

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE GENERAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS RELATING TO THE TAKING OVER THE HUTT RAILWAY BT THE LATTER. - - No. 1. Colonial Secretary's Office, $i& ? — . Wellington, 23rd October, 1873. ,1 have the honor to forward a copy of a letter received from the Contractors 'or the section of the Wellington and Masterton Railway between Wellington and the Hutt, in which they state that the line to the Hutt will certainly be ready for opening >y the Ist of February next, and possibly before that date. The Government forward this information to your Honor in order that the Prorincial Government may have ample time to organize a proper staff to work the railway to advantage. [ . - I have, &c, . Edward Richardson, His Honor the Superintendent, For the Colonial Secretary. Wellington. t No. 2. ' : Superintendent's Office, Sir,-— ' . Wellington, October 27, 1873. ■ I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd [ nstant, enclosing me copy* of a letter from the contractors for the section of the . Wellington and Masterton Railway- between Wellington and the Hutt, stating that the me to the Hutt will be ready for opening by the Ist February next, and beg to thank you for the information. . . With regard to organizing a proper staff to work the railway, I have to state that '. ;he Provincial Government have it under their consideration, and will take care that a staff is ready in due time. ' I haye 1 , &c, _ : ;.. WILJiIAM FITZHERBERT, N ;> The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Superintendent. Wellington. .. : ■ '/ • No. 3. ■ ' ■ :-hl'-:, .;.,* ,_,,,. .--.., . - „ „; ■_..-. ■ Superintendent's Office, :

with the parties applying, in accordance with advertisement by the Provincial Secretary, for the various officers necessary for the working of it. I have &c, William Fitzheebert, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Superintendent. Wellington. . No. 4>. Colonial Secretary's Office, ' Sir, — Wellington, 14th January, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th inst, in which you wish to be informed whether it is intended to extend the date fixed for opening the section of the Wellington and Masterton Railway between Wellington and the Hutt, in order that you may know how to arrange with the parties who have . applied to you for appointments in the various offices necessary for the working of the line, and in reply, to .express the regret of the Government that the progress of the works has not been such as will enable the line to be opened at the contemplated date, . and to assure your Honor that every exertion has been, and is being, made to induce the ' I contractors to proceed more rapidly. With reference to my letter of the 23rd October, and to the interview which took place on the 12th instant between your Honor, the Provincial Executive, and the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, I have the honor to state that, owing to the large amount of plant and material which the extension of the line will oblige the Public Works Department to have conveyed over the completed portion, and the interference with the ordinary public traffic which will be sure to be occasioned thereby, it appears to the Government that the time has not yet arrived when it would be to the interests alike of the General and Provincial Governments to hand over the section alluded to. In submitting this opinion for the consideration of your Honor, the Government request to be informed whether the Province is desirous of immediately taking over the Railway, under such -condition as will insure the requirements of the Public Works Department being carried out, or whether, for the reasons above mentioned, you concur in the opinion of the Government ; and in the event of such concurrence, the Government will be obliged^by your Honor forwarding the applications for employment on the line you have received, coupled with any recommendations your Honor may wish to make, for the information of the Minister for Public Works. As the reasons that appear to the Government to apply to the Hutt Railway apply with equal force to the. postponement of the taking over the Manawatu tramway by the Province, owing to the Government having determined, with a view to economy, to push forward the construction of the Manawatu and Wanganui Railway from the Manawatu end ; the Government will be obliged by your Honor also expressing the opinion of the Provincial Government as to the course desired to be taken in reference to the tramway now in use as far as Palmers ton. I have. &c, William H. Reynolds. His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. No. 5. Superintendent's Office, Slß.— Wellington, January 28, 1874. 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, in which you say : " With reference to my letter of the 23rd October, and to the interview which took place on the 12th instant, between your Honor, the Provincial Executive, and the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, I have the honor to state that, owing to the large amount of plant and material which the extension of the line will oblige the Public Works Department to have conveyed over the completed portion, and the interference with the ordinary public traffic which will be sure to be occasioned thereby, it appears to the Government that the time has not yet arrived when it would be to the interest alike of the General and Provincial Governments to hand over the section alluded to." You also go on to say, "in submitting this opinion for the consideration of your Honor, the Government request to be informed whether the Province is desirous of immediately taking over the Railway, under such conditions as will ensure the requirements of the Public Works Department being carried out, or whether, for the reasons above mentioned, you concur in the opinion of the Government." In reply, I write to say that to a great extent the Provincial Government concurs in the opinion of the General Government that the time has not arrived when it would be to the interests alike of the General and Provincial Governments to hand over the section alluded to, and I would suggest that the control should remain in the hands of the General Government until the section to the Upper Hutt is completed, and then the whole as far as completed should be placed under Provincial management. I therefore forward as requested the applications for employment received in answer to advertisements, so that you may select those you think best qualified for the respective situations : the account for advertising shall be sent to you as soon as it is received. As to the Tramway from Foxton to Palmerston, the Provincial Government is of opinion that this work should remain under control of General Government until same is completed to the main line of Railway, and the Provincial Government strongly recommend that iron rails should be laid down so that the line may be worked by power. .f§ I take this opportunity of drawing your attention to Mr. Fox's letter of the 27th [ffarch last, in which he states — " When the line is approaching completion a better Opportunity will be afforded for forming a correct opinion as to the probable effect of j/those works, and then will be the time to determine what further works the Government, as constructors of the Railway, are bound to execute, to ensure the greatest safety possible under the circumstances, to the travelling public," and to my reply of 29th March last ; and I express a hope that an adjustment may now be made as to the points at issue with regard to Hutt line of road. I have, &c, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Superintendent. Wellington.