D.—No. 6a

8

PAPERS RELATING TO THE

lam informed by His Honor the Superintendent that he has no recollection whatever of any conversation in which he undertook to place the plant at the disposal of the General Government, and that he intends the rails now lying at Newmarket to be used on the Kaipara Eailway. He is, however, willing to transfer the rails, and such other portions of the plant as we may require, on the Government supplying similar plant of a lighter weight—not weight for weight, but length for length. On this latter point I was particular in understanding him clearly. I have, &c, John Blackett, Esq., Engineer-in-Chief, Henry Weigg. Public Works Department, AVellington.

No. 16. Mr. Coopee to Mr. Weigg. Sib,— Public AVorks Office, Wellington, 3rd April, 1871. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Gisborne, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th ultimo, addressed to Mr. Blackett, stating that you had obtained from the Provincial Government of Auckland a list of all the railway plant and rolling stock in their possession, which you have no doubt would be handed over to the General Government, if desired ; also your letter of the 13th ultimo, stating that the Provincial Government will hand over plant lying at Newmarket to the General Government, if latter will provide plant of lighter weight for Kaipara Eailway. In reply, I am to inform you that the Government only wish to have the rails, fish-plates, bolts, and other fittings, switches, points, crossings, <fcc, and not the rolling stock. As the rails, &c, are all lying outside, it is not considered that the care-taker employed by the Provincial Government will be required; and if you make arrangements with His Honor the Superintendent that the General Government can have the rails, &c, as required, no other special arrangement will be necessary. You will not, however, press this question of plant upon His Honor; it will be sufficient to indicate the wishes of the Government in the matter ; and I am to request you, meanwhile, to prepare and forward estimates for new rails and plant throughout. Mr. Blackett will reply to your queries as to gauge, &c. I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, Henry Wrigg, Esq., in charge of Waikato Eailway Survey, Under Secretary. Auckland.

No. 17. Mr. AVeiog, C.E., to Mr. Coopee. Sie,— Auckland, 12th April, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated 3rd instant (No. 169), referring to rails, &c, for the AVaikato Eailway. In consequence of your communication, I this day waited upon His Honor the Superintendent, from whom I gather that he is perfectly willing to exchange rails, points, crossings, &c. (exclusive of rolling stock) length for length, for a lighter rail that would suit the purposes of the Kaipara Eailway, or that the rails should be taken at a valuation; and he is willing to enter into arrangements with the General Government for that purpose. Estimates will be prepared for the rails and rolling stock required as soon as the details of the line are more fully decided upon. I have, &c, G. S. Cooper, Esq., Under Secretary, Wellington. Henbt Weiog.

No. 18. • The Hon. Dr. Pollen to Hon. AV. Gisboene. Sib, — General Government Offices, Auckland, 20th December, 1870. I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter from Mr. Jackson, of Onehunga, and its enclosure, a petition to His Excellency the Governor from landowners and residents of that place, relative to a proposed extension of the Onehunga branch of the AVaikato Eailway to the Bluff. A Ministerial crisis having occurred shortly after the resolution complained of was adopted by the Provincial Council, and the question having been subsequently reconsidered, the resolution was formally rescinded. Annexed is an extract from the Journals of the Auckland Provincial Council.* I have, &c, Daniel Pollen, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, AVellington. Agent for General Government.

Enclosure 1 in No. 18. Mr. Jackson to the Hon. Dr. Pollen. Sib, — Onehunga, Bth December, 1870. I have been requested to forward the enclosed petition to you, with the request that you will be good enough to bring it before His Excellency the Governor in Council. * See Enclosure to No. 6.