CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS

D.—No. 6b,

45

No. 44. The Hon. W. Gisborne to His Honor W. Rolleston. (Telegram.) Wellington, 28th December, 1870. Government will agree to the proposals in your letter of the 24th instant to the Colonial Treasurer, as embodied in sub-clauses 1 to 5, on the understanding that the Resident Engineer is to be appointed and to be removable by the Governor, and to act under the instructions of the Chief Engineer. The works to be taken over by the General Government as soon as funds for the purpose of constructing them are raised under Loan Act. Sub-clause G agreed to ; the recommendation to be to the General Assembly. Send up plans at once. Some one representing the Provincial Government should accompany them. Whom do you recommend as Resident Engineer ? W. Gisborne.

No. 45. His Honor W. Rolleston to the Hon. the W. Gisborne. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 29th December, 1870. I have already recommended Mr. William Bayley Bray, who has hitherto been acting as Consulting Engineer for the office of Resident Engineer. He goes to meet Messrs. Babington and Tancred at Timaru on Monday, and Mr. Millar at the Waitaki on Wednesday. On his return, if you approve, he will go to Wellington with some members of Government and take tho plans with him ; meanwhile, I presume, we can proceed with calling for tenders for the next eight miles to the south of the Waimakiriri for the fencing, earth and other works, so as to be ready when the rails and iron girders arrive from England, subject to approval of Resident Engineer, as soon as you have appointed him, in terms of your telegram. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. W. Rolleston.

No. 46. The Hon. W. Gisborne to His Honor W. Rolleston. (Telegram.) Wellington, 30th December, 1870. Mb. W. B. Bray will be appointed Resident Engineer under Public Works Act in Province of Canterbury. He should come to Wellington and bring plans. I think Mr. Blackett will be back here in about a fortnight. All plans and specifications having to be approved of by Mr. Blackett, anything you do in the meantime will be on your own responsibility. If you are satisfied, the risk, I imagine, about calling for the tenders you speak of will not be much. His Honor the Superintendent, Christchurch. W. Gisboene.

No. 47. Memorandum of Interview between the Provincial Government of Canterbury and the Minister for Public Works with the Hon. Mr. Bell and Mr. Blackett.—2lst February, 1871. Questions put and Replies thereto. 1. Whether the Hon. Minister for Public Works would approve generally of the division of the contracts on the Northern Line and the conduct of the construction on the plan now adopted, and specifically of the orders sent and to be sent to England for bridges, rails, and other material, including waggons, necessary to carry on the line to Rangiora, provided the whole cost comes within the sum specified in the Act ?—The General Government will approve, upon the recommendation of their Engineer, Mr. Blackett. 2. Would he authorize the continuation of the surveys of the lines of railway prescribed by the resolutions of the Provincial Council, including the branch lines, and instruct Mr. Blackett to put them in hand?—Mr. Gisborne would direct Mr. Blackett to submit a plan for the immediate prosecution of the surveys as laid down in the resolutions. 3. Would he approve of the Rakaia Bridge as a railway bridge, so as to bring it within the terms of my letter of 24th December, on the approval by the Engineer of the plan ?—Yes. 4. Would he authorize the commencement of the Timaru and Temuka Railway, under Mr. Blackett's direction, to the extent of the funds which the Province could provide ?—Yes. 5. Would he authorize rails for the Southern Line as far as the Rakaia to be ordered, so that tenders for the work might be invited as soon as it was known that the Government was in funds ? —We might instruct Mr Ottywell to order the rails, subject to his being informed in London that the Government was in funds, the Colonial Government undertaking to pay the contractor. 6. AVould he authorize Mr. Blackett to determine the question of the position of the Selwyn Bridge, on the Rolleston and Southbridge Line, with the view to a railway bridge, and to make the necessary surveys ?—Yes. 7. It was understood that Mr. Bray was to be Resident Engineer for the whole Province for the present, and that Mr. Tancred should be employed in the preparation of plans and sections for the Timaru and Temuka Railway ; the plans to be forwarded through Mr. Bray. 8. As to the question of Immigration, Mr. Gisborne stated that it was the intention of tho Government to work through the Provincial Agency for the present. 9. Waitala Bridge.—Mr. Gisborne expressed his desire that as soon as the joint report on tho subject had been considered the work should be tendered for. The views of the Provincial Government were expressed as agreeing with this intention. W. Rollestow. 9