D.—No. Id,

OF A ROAD BETWEEN WANGANUI AND TAUPO.

19

No. 17. The Hon. D. McLean to Major Kemp. (Telegram.) Wellington, 10th October, 1870. I have seen Mr. Gisborne, the Minister for Roads, and ho agrees that the road you propose should bo improved by contract. Mr. Booth will be written to on the subject. How many miles of road are there from Ranana to Murimotu, and where would the road lead from Murimotu ? Major Kemp, Wanganui Donald McLean.

No. 18. Mr. Cooper to Mr. Booth. (Telegram.) Wellington, 25th October, 1870: I have to acknowledge letter reporting on country between Banana and Murimotu, and express satisfaction of Government therewith. Work within your estimate of £500 to be done by piecework by Natives interested in the several portions of the land, doing by contract road over their portions respectively. Please report your arrangements when made. Also arrange for a party under your direction to explore a line from Mangawhero, where Field's road ends, to termination of the bush towards Taupo. No time to be lost in setting these works going. , J. Booth Esq., E.M., Wanganui. . G. S. Cooper.

No. 19. Mr. Field to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sic, — Wanganui, 2nd November, 1870. As some statements have appeared in the Wanganui papers to the effect that Mr. Hales had expressed some opinion more or less unfavourable to the road to Taupo via Mangawhero, I took an opportunity of speaking to him on the subject, and found he had kept no copy of his report. Mr. Buller, with whom I had also some conversation on the subject, said that the statements in the papers were not correct: that the report was generally favourable, but that something was said expressive of doubt as to the possibility of forming a good road, though whether it referred merely to the actual lino of the pack-road as cut, or to the locality generally, he was not certain. He seemed surprised that I had not been furnished with a copy of the report, and to think that the omission had probably arisen from the press of business attending the transfer of the department from the Hon. Mr. McLean to yourself. I should, of course, wish to know what really had been reported, as I am certain that any doubt as to the possibility of constructing a good road (on any other ground than the want of gravel on some parts of the line, a defect which I pointed out in my report of last December, and which is universal all through the broken bush country between the coast settlements and the plains,) must have arisen from some misconception which I could probably explain; and I shall therefore feel obliged if you will furnish me with a copy of Mr. Hales' report. I have, &c, The Hon. W. Gisborne, Minister for Public Works. H. C. Field.

No. 20. Mr. Coopee to Mr. Field. j Sir,— Public "Works Office, "Wellington, 7th November, 1870. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Gisborne, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, and, in compliance with your request, to inclose a copy of Mr. Hales' report of the 12th September, on the Mangawhero-Taupo road works. I have, &c., G. S. Coopee, H. C. Field, Esq., Wanganui. Under Secretary.

No. 21. Mr. Field to the Hon. W. Gisbobne. Sir, — Wanganui, 12th November, 1870. ' I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Under Secretary's letter of the 7th instant, covering copy of Mr. Hales' report, and to thank you for your prompt compliance with my request. I am glad to find that the newspaper assertion as to Mr. Hales having condemned the road, and a rumour which has been current here—to the effect that he has advised the Government not to proceed with the work —and which had obtained more or less credence from nothing having been done in the way of further construction during the late fine weather, appear to have been destitute of foundation. At the time the report was written, the continued rains had made slips and mud so universal on all roads hereabouts, that even on the main road to Wellington several carts per day stuck fast and had to be dug out. Mr. Hales' statement, that " The line has been taken over country where it ia easiest cleared, without the nature of the ground having been studied," would have been more nearly correct if the