1.—2 D

1877. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE.

REPORT ON THE PETITION OF GEORGE HOLMES & CO. (TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.) (REPORT BROUGHT UP 7th DECEMBER, 1877.J

REPORT. The petitioners were contractors for the Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway, nnder the Provincial Government of Canterbury, and they state that deviations were made by the contracting parties from the original contract which involved the straightening of the tunnel and various alterations in the vicinity of the tunnel mouth, for which deviation and alteration a sum of .£5,000 was agreed to be paid. This alteration of the original plan necessitated the original lines of reclamation to be extended seaward, and the petitioners claim payment for this extended reclamation, which they state was not included in the sum of £,5000 agreed to be paid for the alterations in the tunnel and tunnel mouth. The Committee, having examined the documents bearing on the case, and taken the evidence of W. S. Moorhouse, W. Rolleston, and W. Montgomery, who were connected with the Government of Canterbury during the progress of the contract, and also examined Mr. Dobson, C.E., who was engineer of the works, direct me to report that the Committee are unable, at this period of the session, to give that careful consideration to the mass of evidence before them that the importance of the case demands, but are of opinion that the petition and evidence should be referred to the Government for consideration during the recess, with a view to instituting an inquiry into the matter if necessary. T. KELLY, 7th Dec, ] 877. Chairman Public Petitions Committee. I.—l. 2d.