AGENT-GENERAL, LONDON.

7

D.—No. 1

colonization operations now being undertaken; and, as time is of importance, lam to request you to use every exertion to proceed to London by the first opportunity. I have, &o, John Knowles, Thomas Birch, Esq., Dunedin. Under Secretary. [A similar letter was addressed to James Seaton, Esq., Dunedin.]

No. 6. Memorandum for the Agent-General, London. (No. 53, 1871.) Public Works Office, Wellington, 25th November, 1871. I forward herewith a list of railway plant which Messrs. Brogden have been requested to provide, for sundry railway works which it is in contemplation to undertake. The rails, of which a plan and specification are enclosed, must be submitted for tender to not less than six manufacturers, in the manner indicated in the sixteenth clause of Contract No. 1, and are to be subject to Mr. Hemans' inspection before shipment. A copy of the papers containing the contract above mentioned is also forwarded herewith.* As no plans of the workshop tools are furnished, they will have to be prepared and submitted to Mr. Hemans' inspection before tenders as above are obtained, or the tools must be purchased from a manufacturer, approved by Mr. Hemans, and in either case submitted to his inspection before shipment. These shipments, although intended for wrorks to be undertaken by the Messrs. Brogden, are nevertheless in the meanwhile the property of the Government, and you will therefore have the bills of lading and policies of insurance made out to the order of the Minister of Immigration and Public Works for the time being. A credit has been arranged by the Treasury, in your favour, for £38,000, which amount it is estimated will be ample to cover the cost of freight and all other charges of shipment. W. Gisborne.

* A.—No. 6, Session 1871

Enclosure 1 in No. 6. Memo, of Plant to be purchased in England by Messrs. Brogden. Workshop Tools. 1 lathe, 18" chuck, 20 feet length, with leading screw and change wheels. 1 punching and shearing machine, If-". 1 drilling machine, double geared. 1 „ „ single „ 1 plaining „ to plain 8i" + 3|". 1 screw cutting ~ from f" to 2". 1 shaping ~ 11" stroke. 1 engine, 15 horse power. 100 feet 3-inch shafting, turned the whole length, with 12 plummer-blocks and 8 fast and loose pullies. The shafting will be placed on each side of the shop (50 feet on each side) and driven direct from the fly-wheel on 3-feet drums. It will be carried on plummer-blocks 10 feet apart placed on tie beams of roof. 1 noiseless fan, 4 feet in diameter. 1 general joiner. 2 traversing hydraulic jacks, 20 tons. 1 saw bench. 1 hand lathe. 4 smiths' hearths. The above in duplicate, one set to be shipped to Auckland and one to Dunedin. Bails. 6 miles steel-topped rails, 40 lbs. to yard, 420 tons, with spikes and fish-plates. 52 miles iron rails, 40 lbs. to yard, 3,080 tons, with spikes and fish-plates. The rails to be shipped as follows : — Greymouth 8 miles, iron. Wellington 10 ~ ~ Auckland 10 „ ~ Picton 12 „ ~ 3 miles steel. Bluff 12 „ Otago 3 ~ steel. The fish-plates shall be according to drawing, and to fit the rails accurately. They shall be of best mild Bessemer steel.