PAPERS RELATING TO THE

D.—No. 6a,

18

No. 41. The Hon. W. Gisborne to His Honor T. B. Gillies. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, AVellington, 6th June, 1871. I have the honor to forward a copy of a letter from Dr. Pollen, enclosing a report recently received from Mr. AVrigg, relative to a question that has been raised as to whether the present terminus of the line to Waikato should be at Tuakau or Mercer. I shall be obliged if your Honor will favour the Government with an expression of your views on the proposals made as early as your convenience will allow. As the tracing accompanying Mr. Wrigg's report is sent in original, may I request its return when done with. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. W. Gisboene.

No. 42. His Honor T. B. Gillies to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 13th June, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 168, of the 6th instant, requesting an expression of my opinion as to whether the present terminus of the line to Waikato should be at Tuakau or Mercer, and in reply to inform you that, if the line can be made to have its terminus at Mercer, within the amount per mile available, that is the proper place for the terminus, and not Tuakau. The latter was originally recommended to avoid the expensive portion between it and Mercer. On the whole, I quite concur with the recommendation of Mr. Wrigg, as expressed in his report enclosed in your letter. I beg to return herewith, as requested, the tracing accompanying Mr. Wrigg's report. I have, &c, Thomas B. Gillies, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 43. Mr. Knowles to the Hon. Dr. Pollen. (Telegram.) Wellington, 21st June, 1871. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, fully concurs in the necessity for fixing the terminus at Mercer instead of Tuakau. Mr. Gisborne wishes you, therefore, to instruct Mr. Wrigg to lay off with all possible despatch the line to Mercer proposed in his report of 16th May. John Knowles. No. 44. The Hon. W. Gisboene to His Honor T. B. Gillies. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 22nd June, 1871. Adverting to your Honor's letter No. 520, of the 13th instant, recommending Mercer as a proper place for the terminus of the railway line to Waikato, I have the honor to state that the Hon. Dr. Pollen and Mr. Blackett have been informed of your Honor's concurrence in the necesshy for fixing the terminus at Mercer, and Mr. Wrigg will be instructed to lay off with all possible despatch the line to Mercer. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. AV. Gisborne.

No. 45. Mr. Weigg to Mr. Blackett. Sie,— Auckland, 10th June, 1871. I have the honor to report that the annexed diagram represents at the present time the exact state of the survey of the Waikato Eailway. You are aware that the detailed levels from Drury to Tuakau were stopped by instructions from Dr. Pollen on the 29th April last, pending the decision of the Government upon my report referring to the terminus at Mercer, handed to the Goverment Agent on the 16th May, since which nothing has been done on the diversion from Drury to Tuakau, waiting instructions. My assistants have been kept under pay, to be ready to proceed the moment I receive further instructions. Eegarding the state of the work, the diagram will explain more fully than I can describe the state of the surveys under my charge. I have at last been enabled, after very considerable delay and expense, to complete the survey and levels through the Domain, and I think you will be compelled to take that line, for the coast line would be a very long one, and being for a great portion of its length within the influence of the tides, the works would be very expensive. Eespecting the Tunnel line, if it were adopted, we must, for perfect security against the present very extensive and dangerous slip, extend the tunnel through that portion of the line affected by it, which would make the tunnel 530 yards long, of which about 60 yards are done, leaving the balance to be done 470 lineal yards. This will be a very costly and a very difficult