I.—2a.

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TELEGRAMS, LETTERS, AND MEMORANDA IN CONNECTION WITH Nos. 1, 2, and 3. The Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 12th December, 1872. I have the honor to forward copy of a resolution passed by the Provincial Council now in session recommending the construction of a railway from Grahamstown and Shortland by way of Ohinemuri to join the proposed extension of the AVaikato line. I consider the proposal worthy of investigation, as ultimately such a line will be a necessity. I have, &c, Thomas B. Gillies, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent. Session XXVIII. —Extract from the Journal of the Auckland Provincial Council, Friday, 6th December, 1872.—Address No. 38. Resolved, That this Council recommends, as a work which should be undertaken under the Immigration and Public Works Loan, a railway from Grahamstown and Shortland by way of Ohinemuri, and connecting with the AVaikato line, as projected, to central AVaikato; and requests his Honor the Superintendent to take the necessary steps to bring tho proposed line under the consideration of the Colonial Government. That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent forwarding the foregoing resolution. (True extract), G. Maurice O'Rorke, His Honor the Superintendent. Speaker.

The Hon. J. Hall to His Honor T. B. Gillies. Sic,— Colonial Secretary's Office, AVellington, 21th December, 1872. I havo the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th December, 1872, enclosing a resolution of the Auckland Provincial Council recommending the construction of a railway from Grahamstown and Shortland by way of Ohinemuri, to join the proposed extension of the Waikato line. 1 have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. John Hall.

His Honor T. B. Gillies to the Hon. ihe Colonial Secretary. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 31st January, 1873. Herewith I have the honor to transmit, for presentation to His Excellency the Governor, a memorial signed by 1,960 inhabitants of tho Thames Gold Fields, praying for the construction of a railway through the Thames Valley to the Upper AVaikato, with a branch line to Tauranga. I have, &c, Thomas B. Gillies, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent.

Enclosure. Memoeial to His Excellency Sir Geoege Ferguson Bowen, G.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand, in Council. The memorial hereunder subscribed to humbly showeth : 1. That your memorialists arc inhabitants of the Thames Gold Field, including the Highway Districts of Parawhai, Shortland, Grahamstown, and Tararu ; and the average number.of the population of the said district or districts for the past five years has been about 12,000. 2. The Thames Gold Field consists of a rocky, hilly country, wholly unfit for agricultural purposes ; and your memorialists are desirous of obtaining the means of direct communication with the fertile agricultural districts of tho Upper Waikato and East Coast, which are naturally adapted to supply tho food requirements of the population of the Thames Gold Field District. 3. The easiest and shortest route to these districts is southwards through the Thames Valley, and the most suitable means of communication that of railway —-of the estimated length of sixty-three miles, terminating at Upper Waikato; with a branch line of the estimated length of twenty miles, terminating at Tauranga. 4. Your memorialists respectfully represent that the absence of agricultural lands in connection with gold-mining is a serious drawback to the stability of mining industry, as it not only increases the cost of provisions to the miner, but, iv the event of a temporary mining depression, renders inevitable the departure from such district of a portion of the mining population. 5. Your memorialists would further represent that direct and easy communication between tho agricultural districts before mentioned and this permanent gold-mining district would greatly increase the further settlement and development of the resources of the said agricultural districts; likewise, that the country through which the desired line of railway would pass is eminently suitable for the location of settlers, as it abounds in good agricultural land, gold, flax, and valuable timber; and such a line of railway possesses advantages not inferior to any of those already projected throughout the colony. 6. Your memorialists are of opinion that the construction of a line through the Thames Valley would be productive of the happiest results in regard to the Natives residing therein, by increasing the value of their lands, and assisting to break down thoss barriers between the Native and European populations which have retarded the utilization of much of the natural resources of this and