CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS IN THE NORTH ISLAND.
39
A.—No. 17
your letter of the 24th ultimo, informing me that you had accepted contracts upon the Manawatu Road, Oroua Bush to Foxton, to the amount of £219 9s Gd ; and in reply beg leave to inform you that the said amount has been approved of by the Government. I have, (fee., John T. Stewart, Provincial Engineer, Manawatu. G. S. Cooper.
No. 87. Copy of a Telegram, from Mr. Cooper to Mr. Stewart. Government Buildings, sth April, 1870. Wanted, statement of what lines of road are in progress—length made in each. Expenditure to date in round numbers if not exact. Telegraph reply. G. S. Cooper.
No. 88. Copy of a Telegram from Mr. Stewart to Mr. Cooper. Otaki, 6th April, 1870. The lines of road in progress are :—l. Ngawhakarau and Oroua bush, two miles bush, rather heavy work, still incomplete; expenditure to date, £410. 2. Oroua bush to Foxton, 12 miles, open country, light work, two and three-quarter miles partly done; expenditure to date, £100. John T. Stewart.
No. 89. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Thynne to the Hon. W. Fox. Sir, — Manawatu, 22nd April, 1870. Having been round the Upper Manawatu block, I would desire to obtain your assistance in a matter which I well know is purely a Government undertaking, but as it tends at the same time to materially assist a number of energetic settlers, I trust you may take a favorable consideration of it. The assistance I would ask is, that more men may be put on the works now being carried on in forming a road from the Oroua bridge to the Palmerston road, so that it may be finished before the wet weather sets in, which unless it is, will be next to impassable. I would with all due deference urge this on many points:—■ That it would be connecting the communication with the port a year earlier. That it will be both cheaper and better work, if done during the dry season. That, as all the contracts are held by Maoris, their character does not insure the work, should it become more difficult and expensive, being carried out, and to renew them would cause a greater outlay. That it will be impossible to cart sand as proposed along the road, therefore rendering it useless for draying. And that unless more men are put on, it cannot possibly be finished before the wet weather sets .in, as very nearly half remains untouched. Knowing the interest you take in the settling of the country, I trust I may be excused in speaking of a matter which does not come within my duties, and that you will try to meet the wishes of the settlers as far as possible in this matter. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Ernest S. Thynne.
No. 90. Copy of a Letter from Lieut.-Colonel Reader to Mr. Thynne. Colonial Defence Office, Sir,— Wellington, 4th May, 1870. By direction of the Hon. Mr. Gisborne, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd ult., urging on the Government the importance of putting on a greater force in order to complete the roads in the Manawatu district as far as possible before the winter sets in, and in reply to inform you that instructions have been given to push on the work by every means available to the officer in charge of the roads. I have, &c, H. E. Reader, Ernest S. Thynne, Esq., Foxton, Manawatu. For the Acting Under Secretary.
No. 91. Copy of a Letter from Lieut.-Colonel Reader to Mr, Stewart. Colonial Defence Office, Sir, Wellington, 4th May, 1870. By direction of the Hon. Mr. Gisborne I have the honor to request that you will be good enough to employ all the available means at your disposal, so as to push on the construction of the roads under your superintendence before the winter sets in ; and in all cases where you are not able to complete culverts or check drains, that you will take such measures of preparation that the winter rains may do the least possible damage, with a view to the resumption of the work in the spring. I have, <fee, John T. Stewart, Esq., H. E. Reader, Provincial Engineer, Manawatu. For the Acting Under Secretary.