E.—4.

17

No. 50. The Secretary, Otago Harbour Board, to the Hon. the Minister for Public Woeks. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 18th June, 1878. I received your telegram and letter on subject of land between Stuart Street and Saunders Street from Mr. Maitland, and have forwarded them, the Board's resolution —namely, that it is willing to reserve certain sections ; these will be nearly equivalent in quantity to that said to be wanted by railway authorities, but at present used for convenience of private parties. The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. John L. Gillies. No. 51. The Hon. the Minister for Public "Works to the Hon. the Attorney-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 19th June, 1878. Following copy of telegram sent to Harbour Board. 1£ you undertake to arrange matters Government will rely upon your guarding future requirements of railway, of which a portion of Crawford Street Block is declared by Conyers, Blair, and Blackett to be sine qua non. The Hon. the Attorney-General, Dunedin. J. Macandeew. No. 52. The Hon. the Minister for Public Woeks to the Secretary, Otago Harbour Board. (Telegram.) Wellington, 19th June, 1878. I understand from your telegram that two chains have been reserved outside of line of Crawford Street for railway purposes. Might not this be extended half a chain further, so as to secure what is deemed by railway authorities very inadequate provision for future requirements ? I beg to say that nothing is further from the desire of the Government than to cripple Board's action, and that, in consenting to relinquish so much of the Crawford Street Block, we are not without compunctions that the future is being unduly sacrificed to the exaggerated exigency of the present. If the Board mean to imply by innuendo that the Government are acting under private influence, they ought at once openly to state what they mean that influence to be. As respects the proposal to refer the whole question to the Attorney-General, who is now on the spot, Government is quite willing to do so if he will undertake it, although, seeing that his firm are solicitors to the Board, it is perhaps scarcely fair to impose upon him this duty. Be this as it may, the Board may rest assured the Government will not interpose in giving legal effect to the proposed sale of leaseholds beyond that which may be found to be absolutely necessary for future requirements of railway. It might have saved any possible complication had such requirements been defined prior to sale, as suggested. The Secretary, Otago Harbour Board, Dunedin. J. Macandrew. No. 53. The Engineer in Charge, Middle Island, ta the Engineer in Charge, North Island. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 4th July, 1878. Kindly send me Mr. Carruthers' sketch of arrangements of goods station north of Castle Street. It is a large plan in pencil. Mr. John Blackett, Wellington. W. N". Blair. No. 54. The Chief Draughtsman, Wellington, to the District Engineer, Dunedin. Wellington, 10th July, 1878. Under separate cover, please find the original plan P.W.D. 5668, being the only one we have in the office answerin" to the description conveyed in your telegram. By order. H. C. W. Wrigg, W. N. Blair, Esq. Chief Draughtsman. No. 55. The Secretary, Otago Harbour Board, to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sie, — Otago Harbour Board Office, Dunedin, 16th July, 1878. I have the honor by instruction, referring to what transpired at the meeting of the deputation from the Otago Harbour Board to you this day, to submit the following proposal:— That, with a view to straighten the Port Chalmers line of railway, the Board is willing to undertake the filling in of the three bays marked A, B, and C on plan attached, provided the Government construct the front walling or facework. The Board would also be willing to supply material free of any charge for the filling up of any of the smaller bends that the Government may be anxious to get rid of, and in general to fairly harmonize its work with any works the Government may be desirous of carrying out in the interests of the public. I have, &c. John L. Gillies, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Secretary 3—E. 4.