D.—No. 6.a

14

PAPERS RELATING TO THE

No. 33. Mr. Knowles to Mr. Blackett. (Telegram.) ' Wellington, 12th April, 1871. Mb. AVeigg proposes extensive changes in the Tuakau line. Did you contemplate this under his contract, and what is he to be paid for trial surveys ? The question has been raised by Mr. Eunciman, of Mangere, whether the line should go to Tuakau, as he says the same length will reach to a point ten miles further up the river, and above the bad part of the navigation. Mr. Wrigg has been instructed to see him on the subject, and to suspend the survey of the Taukau section for the present. John Knowles.

No. 34. Mr. Knowles to the Hon. Dr. Pollen. (Telegram.) Wellington, 12th April, 1871. Ee Mr. Wrigg's report Waikato Eailway survey, 27th March. —Please instruct him to stop the survey of section D to Taukau terminus for the present, and see Mr. James Eunciman, of Mangere, on the subject of his letter to you of 20th March, and ask Mr. Wrigg to report his opinion. John Knowles.

No. 35. Mr. Knowles to the Hon. Dr. Pollen. Sib,— Public AVorks Office, Wellington, 13th April, 1871. Eeferring to your letter of the 28th ultimo, No. 207, and to my telegram of yesterday, respecting Mr. James Eunciman's letter to you, in which he states that Point Eussell would be a more suitable terminus for the AVaikato Eailway than Tuakau, I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Gisborne, to request you to instruct Mr. AVrigg to communicate with Mr. Eunciman on the subject, for the purpose of ascertaining— 1. Whether the same length of line will strike the Waikato ten miles further up and above a difficult part of the navigation ? 2. Whether the engineering difficulties are not unduly increased by the proposed change ? Mr. Wrigg should make a preliminary report on these points before any survey can be authorized. I have, Ac, The General Government Agent, Auckland. John Knowles. P.S. —I annex copy of a telegram I have just received from Mr. Blackett on this subject for your information and guidance.—J.K.

Enclosure in No. 35. Mr. Blackett to Mr. Knowles. (Telegram.) Invercargill, 13th April, 1871. Waikato Eailway Survey. —Certain changes were contemplated and described to Mr. AVrigg, who was also authorized to improve the line wherever practicable ; but it must be borne in mind that "The Public Works Act, 1870," provides for a railway line from Auckland to Tuakau on the Waikato, and not to Mercer, ten miles above, on the bend. This point was decided by survey made by Mr. Stewart, who first tried to reach Mercer, as being the most desirable place, but found very difficult country, which would increase the cost of the line per mile beyond the sum authorized by the Act. This obliged him to select Tuakau, which is the point on the river really nearest to Auckland, and easily accessihle. I think it will be better to finish the survey as contracted for to Tuakau, and in order to satisfy the Government get Mr. AVrigg meanwhile only to explore the country to the bend, confirming or rejecting Mr. Stewart's report of it. Should he find a practicable line at moderate cost, then to report and await instructions as to survey. I should explain that I have already, with Mr. Stewart, examined the right river bank from Tuakau to the bend, and believe that this will probably be the best and easiest line, an extension in fact of that already contemplated to Tuakau. Any new line of survey over fresh country must, I suppose, be the subject of another contract, and the exploration proposed must be paid for as an extra, according to the time spent on it. John Blackett.

No. 36. Mr. Knowles to Mr. Blackett. (Telegram.) Wellington, 17th April, 1871. Be Wrigg's survey, Waikato Eailway.—As it is proposed to change the line from the Eailway Eeserve, at the Tuakau end of the line, Dr. Hector is of opinion that such change may greatly add to the cost of the railway in the purchase of land, and he still thinks it advisable that that part of the survey should be suspended until the question raised by Mr. Eunciman as to terminus has been settled. Your telegram of 13th instant has been communicated to Mr. Wrigg. John Knowles.