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11. GEEY COAL MINES TO A SHIPPING POET. No. 8. His Honor Oswald Cubtis to the Hon. W. Gisbobne. Superintendent's Office, Sic, — Nelson, 26th October, 1870. The Provincial Government of Nelson is desirous to obtain a loan of the sum of £60,000 for the following purposes : — Construction of a railway from the Brunner Coal Mine, Grey Eiver, to the Port of Cobden ... ... £30,000 0 0 Construction of Gasworks in the City of Nelson ... 15,000 0 0 Extension of Waterworks in the City of Nelson ... 15,000 0 0 £60,000 0 0 The importance in a Colonial as well as a Provincial point of view, of providing means for the cheap transport of coals, which the Chief Engineer at Woolwich Dockyard has shewn to be far superior to any of the Australian coal, and which he has pronounced to be equal to the average of the North of England coals supplied for the use of Her Majesty's Navy, is, I venture to think, sufficiently apparent. The construction of Gasworks and the extension of wator supply in the town of Nelson, are objects of a local character, and it is the intention of the Provincial Government ultimately to place these works under municipal management. In tho meantime, both works are of an immediately and directly remunerative character, and there can scarcely be a doubt but that the rates which will be levied for gas and water supply, will relieve the Province and the Colony from all charges for interest and sinking fund. You are aware that this Province has always been exceptionally reluctant to involve itself in liabilities, and I think I may on that account appeal with the more confidence to the Colonial Government and the General Assembly for their assent to the moderate proposal which the Provincial Government now think it their duty to submit for your consideration. In order that no time may be lost in taking the preliminary steps required by the Standing Orders relative to Private Bills, I have the honor to request that you will be so good as to inform me at an early date if the Government will be prepared to recommend the raising of a loan of £60,000 for the above mentioned purposes, to tho favourable consideration of the General Assembly. I have, &c, Oswald Cubtis, The Hon. Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No 9. His Honor Oswald Curtis to the Hon. W. Gisboene. Superintendent's Office, Sic, — Nelson, 3rd January, 1871. I shall feel obliged by your informing me if my letter of the 2Cth October last, requesting the support of the Government to a proposed loan for this Province to the extent of £60,000, for purposes therein specified, has yet received the attention of the Government. The contract recently concluded by the Hon. the Postmaster General for a permanent line of mail steamers between this Colony and San Francisco, affords an additional argument in favor of taking measures to render available for the use of those steamers the valuable seams of steam coal in the valley of tho Grey. The success of the Nelson waterworks, and the invaluable results which have ensued to the town from their construction, will be held, I trust, to fully justify tho Provincial Government in asking for a loan for a further sum to enable them to extend tho benefit of a supply of pure water to all parts of tho town. And, as regards both the extension of the waterworks and the introduction of gas, the interest upon the sums applied to those purposes will be fully met by tho special rates, as is already the case with tho loan for £20,000 expended upou the existing waterworks. As I have already intimated, it is the intention of the Provincial Government that both the waterworks and the gasworks shall be placed under the control of tho Municipal body, as soon as the inhabitants of Nelson think it desirable to avail themselves of the provisions of the " Municipal Corporations Act, 1867." I have, Ac, Oswald Cuetis, The Hon. Colonial Secretary, "Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 10. The Hon. W, Giseobite to His Honor Oswald Cubtis. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sih,— Wellington, 10th January, 187 d. The Government have considered your letter of the 26th October, ultimo, in which you request to be informed if the Government will be prepared to recommend the raising of a loan of £60,000 for the purpose of providing for the following objects:— 2

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CONSTRUCTION OF .RAILWAYS.