TRANSFER TO THE CANTERBURY GOVERNMENT OP

D.—No. 8a

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6. It is understood that such traffic accounts as are necessary are kept and audited by the Provincial Auditor, so that when required they can be referred to. 7. All materials for the extension of Railways shall be carried over the lines in provincial hands at half the rates charged to the public from Lyttelton for delivery at the goods [station nearest the place required for the deposit of the goods. 8. Season tickets at half-price shall be granted to the contractor's staff, specially to be issued to the official only, so as not to become the private property of the person using it. 9. The Governor to be advised to concur in a tariff not exceeding the Southern Line" rates, as may from time to time be in force, and such tariff shall not be disturbed during lessee's tenure except at their instance. Thomas Wm. Maude, 7-3-72 Secretary.

Memorandum of Station Accommodation to be Provided by the General Government on the Northern Railway. The undersigned having had referred to them the amount of station accommodation required to be provided by the General Government on the Northern Railway from Addington to Rangiora, met on the 19th January for the purpose of enquiring into the same, and conclude as under: — Addington. This being a station on the Southern Railway, no addition is required to be made. Hiecarton. Here a station-house, with booking-office and accommodation for residence of station master, is needed. The plan of station drawn contains no more accommodation than is absolutely necessary ; the platform, artesian well, urinals and closets, and metalling of roads are necessary for the convenience of Buch an amount of passenger traffic as may be expected here. Papanui. The station master may reside at the gate-house, and act also as gate-keeper, therefore no station building need be erected at present, but the site for its future erection may be left t free. Platform to be 10 feet wide, 100 feet long, including ramps, with a shed 25 feet long, 10 feet wide, 8 feet high, for a waiting shed and booking office at the back of the platform. Urinals required, but no closets or artesian well. Styx. Same accommodation required as above specified for Papanui. Kaiapoi. This station being at a populous town, more passenger accommodation is needed than at the smaller stations. Station buildings to be 50 feet long, 16 feet wide, with 7 feet verandah in front, to contain booking office, 12' 6" x 15'; ladies' room, 12' x 15'; general waiting room, 12' x 15'; and luggage room, 11' x 15. Eive places in the waiting rooms. Platform 100 feet long. Urinals, closets, and artesian well to be provided. Galvanized iron goods shed 90' x 30', and 9' 6" from floor to plate, with three sliding?- doorg on each side. Bangiora. Same accommodation required as at Kaiapoi, and as described above. All requisite signals, and water service, are to be provided by the Provincial Government. G. Thornton, Railway Engineer. W. B. Beay, District Engineer. John Marshman, General Manager. Christchurch, 20th January, 1872.

No. 2. Mr. Kennaway to Mr. Maude. Public Works Office, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, Sib,— 20th March, 1872. In reply to your letter of the Bth instant, and numbered 779-72, enclosing a memorandum embodying the propositions with reference to the working of the Great Northern Railway, I am directed by his Honor the Superintendent to request you to inform the Honorable the Resident Minister that the Provincial Government approve of them as a basis of a formal agreement for the taking over and working of the said Railway. The Provincial Government having reconsidered, as requested by the Honorable the Resident Minister, the question of passage over the Canterbury lines, desire before coming to a final decision