D—No. 10.

forwarded to my address, New Plymouth. Since my return here I have informed the Provincial Government of the action I have taken in Auckland with regard to the formation of a railroad in this Province, and have the honor to enclose the following resolution, passed by a special meeting of the Provincial Council; and have also called a public meeting of settlers for the 30th July, when I hope to be in a position to lay before them your reply to my former communication. I have, &c, To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland. W. K. Hulke. Enclosure to No. 3. EXTEACTS from Minutes of Council, New Plymouth, 21st July, 1864. Kesolted : —" That this Council, having heard Mr. Hulke on the desirability of the construction of a railway in preference to the construction of an ordinary metalled road through this Province towards the south, is of opinion that a railway, if practicable, would be preferable. " That this Council approves of the principle of setting apart lauds abutting on the line for the purpose of paying the cost, or part cost, of construction of a railway, without pledging itself to details." (True extract.) Wm. M. Ceompton, Speaker. No. 4. The Under Secretary to W. K. Hulke, Esq. Sic,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 26th July, 1864. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd July, 1864, and am directed by Mr. Fox to inform you that the reply to your letter of the 13th instant was addressed to you at New Plymouth. I have, &c, W. GISBOBNE, W. K. Hulke, Esq., New Plymouth. Under Secretary. No. 5. W. K. Hulke, Esq., to the Honorable the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — New Plymouth, 2nd August, 1864. With reference to your letter of the 19th July, 1864, we have the honor, before proceeding further in the matter, to request information upon the following points : — 1. AYliether the rough survey for the proposed line of railroad is to be made at the expense of the Government or the persons I represent. 2. Whether the Government has decided that it would bo more advisable to make a railroad from New Plymouth than a metalled road, if the railroad can be constructed at say £4000 per mile. 3. Whether the Government would, in the event of having decided to make a railroad, be desirous of paying for it, either wholly or in part, by a grant of land or by cash; and if by a grant of land, at what would it be valued at per acre—say for forest, fern, or open country. I nave, &c, The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, Auckland. W. K. Hulke. No. 6. The Under Secretary to W. K. Hulke, Esq. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 6th August, 1864. I have the honor, by the direction of the Honorable Mr. Gillies (in the absence of Mr. Fox), to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant on the subject of a proposed railway at Taranaki, and to reply as follows to your three questions respectively :— 1. The Government do not propose to be at any expense further than by placing the services of a surveyor gratuitously at the disposal of the promoters to make a preliminary survey. 2 and 3. Whilst viewing favorably the general idea of making a railway at the cost mentioned in preference to a metalled road, the General Government feel that it would be premature, in the present condition of the Province of Taranaki, to come to any decision as to what public works may hereafter require to be executed on lands still in possession of the Natives, and as to the appropriation of lands not yet at the disposal of the Government. I have, &c, W. Gisborne, W. K. Hulke, Esq., New Plymouth. Under Secretary. No. 7. W. Batley, Esq., to the Hon. the Colonial Secretaey. Sib,— Taranaki, 13th August, 1864. I have the honor to lay before you, and to offer as a suggestion, my simple opinion as to the construction of a railroad through the Province of Taranaki. Sooner or later, we may presume, that the rebels of this Province will be conquered, and the question will then be, how arc they to be held in such subjection as to prevent future aggression ? I have long given consideration to the civilizing and colonizing of this Province. We have no harbours of refuge, our maritime expenses are great ; and the making of a metalled road, constructed at great cost and indefinitely prolonged as to its completion, is, I fear, a slow process of populating a district. The expenses of military tenure for holding a large country with a scattered population, for

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PAPERS RELATIVE TO CONSTRUCTION OE A RAILWAY