OF A ROAD BETWEEN WANGANUI AND TAUPO.

D.—No. Id.

5

sent to me at the road, so as to afford me the opportunity of answering them without leaving or delaying the work. The Government cannot be justified, any more than a private individual would be, in wasting a professional man's time, and expecting him to bear the loss. I cannot, therefore, suppose the Government will indorse the view your letter expresses, or implies, on the above points, and feel sure, when it comes to be inquired into, their sense of justice will cause them to see and admit that I am right in this matter, as well as in that of my original estimate of the cost of the work, which you represent them as having understood to include a number of things to which it did not refer, and to some of which it could not possibly refer. I have, Ac, W. L. Buller, Esq, Wanganui. H. C. Field.

Enclosure 2 in No. 3. Mr. Bullee, E.M., to Mr. Field. Sic, — Eesident Magistrate's Office, Wanganui, 22nd July, 1870. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt (yesterday) of your letter of 18th instant, in which you express yourself much " surprised and hurt " at the contents of my letter of that date, and state that you have toiled at the work (on the Mangawhero-Taupo line) in the face of difficulties which would have " caused any other engineer in the Colony to throw it up altogether," and that you persevered.in it under such adverse circumstances because of the interest which you " naturally felt, as being in a manner its sponsor." I may state, at once, that this matter is not one of sentiment with me, but simply one of business. Whatever interest you may have taken iv the road as its " sponsor," &c, I can only look at results, and (as I stated to you personally) it does appear to me that we have got a very inadequate amount qf work for the time and money spent. I have no wish to " hurt " your feelings, but I must perform my duty to the Government, however unpleasant it may sometimes be. I have not seen the work you have done, nor do I consider myself qualified to form a judgment on a matter requiring some professional knowledge and experience, and it is due to you that the work should be inspected and reported on by a competent engineer. I think it right to inform you that Mr. Hales has been appointed by the Government to that duty, and that he will be accompanied by your late assistant, Alfred Edgcombe, who will be able to point out the pegs or marks, and to give other necessary information. Mr. Hales starts to-morrow morning: I mention this as you may desire to be present at the inspection. I have, &c, H. C. Field, Esq., Wanganui. W. Bullee. E.M.

Enclosure 3 in No. 3. Mr. Bullee, E.M., to Mr. Field. Sib, — Eesident Magistrate's Office, Wanganui, 23rd July, 1870. I have the honor to inform you that your returns and reports have been received by the Government, and that I yesterday received the following telegraphic instructions from the Under Secretary: — " Government directs that Mr. Field be dismissed, and no payment made to him until lie gives more satisfactory reasons for his failure to carry out his promises to Mr. Fox, in respect of the Mangawhero-Taupo works." I have, &c, H. C. Field, Esq., Wanganui. W. Bullee, E.M. P. S. —Eeferring to my letter of yesterday, I have now to inform you that Edgcombe met with an accident last night and is unable to accompany Mr. Hales. His place will be taken by the Native constable Heremia. It may be advisable, on your own account, that you should be present at this inspection, but this is a matter for your own consideration. W. B.

Enclosure 4 in No. 3. Mr. Bttllee, E.M., to Mr. Hales. Sic, — Eesident Magistrate's Office, Wanganui, 22nd July, 1871. I have the honor, by direction of the Government, to request that you will, with as little delay as possible, make a general inspection of Mr. Field's work on the Mangawhero-Taupo line of work. Mr. Field's first instructions were to form a bridle road along the line recently explored and reported on by him, and to superintend the execution of the work by the Government road parties; the road to be at least eight feet wide in the cutting, and to be made at once practicable for pack-horses. When the road parties were afterwards disbanded, Mr. Field was instructed to engage two men and to proceed with the cutting of the line. He was to blaze his way through the bush, selecting and fixing the line, taking levels, and marking the gradients in such a way that any road party could afterwards follow up the line, and construct the road without any professional aid. The Government is anxious to be informed whether this work has been performed in a satisfactory and efficient manner. 2