CONSTRUCTION OP RAILWAYS

25

D.-No. 6b

Enclosure 3 in No. 17. Memo, by Mr. Dobson, respecting inland traffic —Grey Valley. Goods are now taken up the river from Greymouth in boats carrying from 3to 5 tons —3 ton boats require 4 men and 2 horses; 5 ton boats, 4 men and 3 horses. Freight to Ahaura, 25 miles, £5 per ton ; Junction, 30 miles, £G 10s per ton. Three trips a week made in fair weather, to either place. A 3 ton boat will, therefore, make per week, when in full work, £45, for 4 men and 2 horses ; a 5 ton boat will make £75 per week, for 4 men and 3 horses, taking goods to the Ahaura. This price could well fall 50 per cent., and then admit a high rate of wages to the men, and a good share for the boat, Goods are conveyed from Greymouth to Ecofton, on the Inanghua, 70 miles from Greymonth, for £20 per ton. Large quantities of hay and potatoes are now grown in the Upper Grey ; and before long, wheat will bo raised and ground, so that the amount of imported goods will probably decrease considerably in future. The boats charge passengers £1 for going up, and 10s. for the down trip. Horse hire to and from the Ahaura is at the same rates. A. Dudley Dobsox, Provincial Engineer.

Enclosure 4 in No. 17. Mr. AVhall to Mr. O'Connob. Borough Council, Sib, — Greymouth, 26th May, 1871. I have the honor to enclose tlio statement of expenditure of the Council upon river works ami streets; together with a statement of the assessed valuation of the holdings within the limits of the Borough of Greymouth. I have, &c, C. T. O'Conner, Esq., John A. Whall, County Engineer, Greymouth. Town Clerk. Statement of amount expended by the Council of the Borough of Greymouth upon river works, from September, 18G8, to 30th April, IS7I ... £7,027 9 3 Statement of amount expended by the Grey Boad Board upon river works, previous to the town being declared a Borough under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867 ... ... ... ... ... 2,373 1-1 £9,400 10 7 Expended previously, by Canterbury Government ... ... 3,180 110 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... £12,550 12 5 Statement of amount expended making streets and bridges, since the town of Greymouth was proclaimed a Borough under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867 ... ... ... ... ... £1,315 17 3 Amount expended by the Grey Eoad Board, previous to the town being proclaimed a Borough ... ... ... ... ... 30 3 6 £1,346 0 9 Statement of the annual rental value of the holdings within the Borough of Greymouth, on 24th February, 1871, numbering 537 rateable properties, valued, under sworn declaration, at a rental value, per annum, to be ... ... ... ... ... ... £27,643 Enclosure 5 in No. 17. Mr. O'Connoe to Messrs. Blackett and Hectok. Greymouth, Ist June, 1871. Betjnnee Coal Mine Kailway. Gentlemen, — In connection with the above question, I have the honor to furnish the following maps and papers, showing conditions on southern side of Grey Eiver. 1. Plan 10, chain scale, showing line of proposed railway, with alternative routes, from Greymouth to Arnuld ; also, gradients along red and blue lines. 2. Plan, 3 chain scale, showing details of alternative routes, Greymouth to Kaiata reserve. 3. Plan, 1 chain scale' showing details of coal gorge. 4. Section, 30 feet scale, showing levels across river at do. 5. Estimates showing probable cost of different sections red line; also, same for blue line. 6. Statistics of population, &c , Greymouth. I have, &c, Messrs. Blackett and Hector, Chaeles T. O'Connoe, Commissioners. County Engineer, "Westland. 4