o.—No. Ba,

TRANSFER OF NORTHERN RAILWAY.

6

No. 6. His Honor the Superintendent to Hon. Mr. Reeves. Superintendent's Office, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, Sib— 27th April, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, and in reply I have to state my acceptance, on behalf of the Provincial Government, of the terms under which you offer, on behalf of the General Government, to hand over the Northern Railway to the Provincial Government. ■ It is intended to formally open the line to Kaiapoi on Monday, and to commence running passenger trains on the following Wednesday, Ist May. I have, &c, Wm. Rolleston, . The Hon. Mr. Reeves. Superintendent.

JNo. 7. Mr. Thornton to Mr. Maude. NORTHERN RAILWAY. 29th April, 1872. Having examined the above line, between Addington and Kaiapoi, and found the whole of the works well and substantially constructed, I hereby certify that the line is safe for the purposes of public traffic. Geo. Thornton, The Secretary, Resident Minister's Office. Railway Engineer.