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E.—4c

No. 10. Mr. J. McNeill to the Hon. the Commissioned of Customs. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 14th December, 1874. Meeting held re railway matter on Friday. Deputation appointed to see you in Dunedin. Will Wednesday, twenty-third, suit you to receive them ? If not, name day. J. McNeill.

No. 11. The Hon. the Commissioned of Customs to Mr. J. McNeill. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 15th December, 1874. Youe telegram of yesterday reached me last night. If possible I purpose leaving for Wellington early next week. I will be very glad to receive deputation on any day you fix between this and Monday next; but as the railways are under the charge of the Hon. Minister for Public Works, I shall not be in a position to deal with any question connected with them. I think that your purpose would be served if you were to address me fully by letter stating your wishes; and I will, on reaching Wellington, bring your request before the Minister for Public Works. Reply free. J. McNeill, M.P.C., Balclutha. W. Reynolds.

No. 12. Mr. J. McNeill to the Hon. the Commissioned of Customs. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 18th December, 1874. Deputation will meet you, if convenient, to-morrow (Saturday) at Dodson's Empire, Dunedin. Private room, 5.30 p.m. Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Dunedin. J. McNeill.

No. 13. His Honor the Supeeintendent, Otago, to the Hon. the Colonial Secbetaet. Province of Otago, N.Z., Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 22nd December, 1874. Referring to your letter No. 566, 20th November, 1874, in re railway deviation, Clutha to Clinton, copy of which was sent to the Clutha settlers as requested, I have the honor to state that a public meeting has been held in the district, at which your letter has been read. I need not say that a vast amount of dissatisfaction has been expressed at the result, and that the settlers in the district arc strong in the conviction that their interests are being sacrificed unnecessarily, and to the detriment of the main line itself. I do not, of course, presume to question the decision of the Government in au engineering point of view. At the same time, so strong is the feeling throughout the district on the matter, that it might perhaps be expedient to reconsider it, on the ground of public convenience. I have, Ac, J. Macandeew, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent of Otago.

No. 14. The Hon. the Ministee for Public Woeks to Mr. J. W. Thomson. Sic,— Public Works Office, 22nd December, 1874. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 10th instant, having reference to the route of the railway from Balclutha towards Clinton, and suggesting that the Government should call for tenders for the alternative route by the Wajtepeka, as well as that by the Four-Mile Creek. I have to state that it will be impossible to do so, unless a large expense is incurred in staking, out the line, and making detail plans aud sections similar to those being made for the line now adopted. In the face of the reports on these two routes made by the Engineer-in-Chief, I do not consider the Government would be warranted in taking such a course. I have, &c, Mr. Thomson. M.H.R., Clinton, Otago. E. Richabdson.

No. 15. Mr. J. W. Thomson to the Hon. the Commissioned of Customs. Sib, — . Brooklands, Clinton, 24th December, 1874. At a meeting at Waitepeka lately, I was appointed a member of a deputation that was instructed to wait on you with reference to railway deviation. The country members of the deputation