1.—12

1877. NEW ZEALAND".

HUTT-WAIKANAE RAILWAY COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE, TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE).

Brought up 22nd October, 1877, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the Souse of Representatives.

Thubsday, the 9th day op August, 1877. Ordered, That a Select Committee, consisting of the Hon. Mr. Ormond, the Hon. Mr. Richardson, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Bunny, Mr. Ballance, Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Reader Wood, and the Morer (three to be a quorum), be appointed to inquire and report to this House upon the suitability for railway construction of a line of road leading from the Upper Hutt to Paliautanui, and from t.hence by the Horokiwi Valley to Waikanae, with a view to the connection of Wellington with the Foxton and Palmerston Railway by that route ; and as to the expediency of an immediate survey of the same. The Committee to have power to call for papers and persons, and to report in a fortnight.— (Mr. Travers) Wednesday, the 22nd day op Aughtst, 1877. Ordered, That leave be given to the Hutt-Waikanae Railway Committee to postpone the bringing up their report for fourteen days. — {Mr. Travers.) Monday, the 10th day of September, 1877. Ordered, That the Hutt-Waikanae Railway Committee have leave to postpone the bringing up of their report for fourteen days. — (Mr. Travers) Mosday, the 24th day or Septembeb, 1877. Ordered, That the time for bringing up the report of the Hutt-Waikanae Railway Committee be extended for fourteen days from this date.— (Mr. Travers) Wednesday, the 26th day op September, 1877. Ordered, That the petition of residents at Foxton (No. 292) be referred to the.Hutt-Waikanao Railway Committee.— (Mr. Kelly.) Thursday, the 4th day op October, 1877. Ordered, That the time for bringing up the report of the Hutt-Waikanae Railway Committee be extended for fourteen days.— (Mr. Travers)

REPORT. The Select Committee appointed to inquire and report to the House upon the suitability for railway construction of a line of road leading from the Upper Hutt to Pahautanui, and from thence by the Horokiwi Valley to Waikanae, with a view to the connection of Wellington with the Foxton and Palmerston Railway by that route; and as to the expediency of an immediate survey for the same, have the honor to report, — That they have taken a considerable amount of evidence with regard to the matter referred to them, and are satisfied that the proposed line would bring into immediate use a very large extent of rich and valuable land, which must otherwise, for want of communication with Wellington, remain unavailable. The proposed line, moreover, appears to your Committee to offer the shortest route by which the whole of the country on the west coast of the Provincial District of Wellington may be brought into direct communication with the City of Wellington. I.—l. 12.