D.—No. 6b.

I beg leave to mention, for the information of the G-overnment, that Mr. Blackett is thoroughlyacquainted with the country through which the proposed lines would pass, and that Dr. Hector, independently of his scientific and practical knowledge of the value and extent of the coal measures of the Grey, has also given much attention during his visits to that part of the country, to the question of the construction of a line of railway through the heart of the Province of Nelson, and to the route which it would be most advisable to adopt. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, "Wellington. Oswald Ctjetis.

No. 12. The Hon. W. Gisboejje to His Honor Oswald Citbtis, Nelson. Colonial Secretary's Office. Sib,— Wellington, 14th April, 1871. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter of the 13th instant, submitting certain proposals in reference to your letter of the 26th October last, and to my reply of the 10th January, relative to the raising of a loan of £60,000 for the Province of Nelson, for certain specified purposes. The Government will be prepared to recommend to the General Assembly a bill authorising the Provincial Government of Nelson to raise a loan of thirty thousand pounds for the extension of waterworks, and the construction of gasworks in the city of Nelson, provided that such loan shall not be secured upon public revenue, but upon the rates to be collected for the supply of water and gas, and upon the ordinary rates levied by the Board of Works, under the Nelson Town Improvement Act. Anticipating that the Provincial Council will concur with your Honor in recommending that the lines from the Brunner to Cobden, and from Nelson to Foxhill, respectively, should be authorised by the General Assembly to be constructed independently of the remainder of the line from Nelson to Cobden, the Government will take steps under the Public Works and Immigration Act, 1870, to have such surveys of those lines made, if the existing surveys are not sufficient, as will enable the question of their construction to be determined in the next session of the General Assembly. In the case of the proposed Brunner and Cobden line, it will be necessary first to make careful enquiries as to the best course of a railway to connect the coal mines on the Grey Eiver with a shipping port, and to submit the result of those enquiries for the consideration of the legislature; and the Government will appoint Dr. Hector, the Government Geologist, and Mr. Blackett, Acting Chief Engineer of Public Works, to be a Board of Enquiry for that purpose. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendet, W. Gisbob^e, Nelson.

No. 13. Mr. Kjtowles to Mr. Blackett. Public Works Office, Sib,— Wellington, 22nd April, 1871. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Gisborne, to enclose herewith an extract from a letter from the Hon. the Colonial Secretary to His Honor the Superintendent of Nelson, and to request you to make careful enquiries, in conjunction with Dr. Hector, and, after personal inspection, to report on the best course of a railway to connect the coal mines ou the Grey Eiver with a shipping port, with a view to promoting public interests to the greatest extent, and to securing the greatest development of the coal field, and the best paying line. You are also requested to take steps to have a Parliamentary survey made of the best line of railway from Nelson to Eoxhill; and after the line from the Grey Eiver coal mines to a shipping port is decided on, a similar survey will have to be made under your direction. I have, &c, John Blackett, Esq., John Knowles, Acting Engineer-in-Chief, Dunedin. Under Secretary.

No. 14. Mr. Knowles to Dr. Hectob. Public Works Office, Sib,— Wellington, 22nd April, 1871. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Gisborne, to enclose herewith an extract from a letter from the Hon the Colonial Secretary to His Honor the Superintendent of Nelson, and to request you to make careful enquiries, in conjunction with Mr. Blackett, and, after personal inspection, to report on the best course of a railway to connect the coal mines on the Grey Eiver with a shipping port, with a view to promoting public interests to the greatest extent, and to securing the greatest development of the coal fields, and the best payiDg line. I have, &c., John Knowlep, Dr. Hector, Wellington. ,^_^^^^^^_^^^^ Under Secretary.

13

CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS.