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Bess. 11.—1891. NEW ZEALAND.

COMPLAINTS AGAINST INSPECTOR OF MANGAONOHO SECTION OF RAILWAY (PAPERS RELATING TO).

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated 30th July, 1891. Ordered, " That copies of the complaints made hy the contractor against the Inspector of the Mangaonoho section of railway, together with all correspondence thereon, be laid before this House." —(Mr. Duthie.)

No. 1. Messrs. Clbghokn, Forrest, and Magee, Contractors, to the Eesident Engineer, Palmerston North. g IBj Bangatira, Himterville, 21st March, 1891. We beg to bring before you a few grievances against Mr. Campbell our Inspector. 1. In your presence he examined two trucks of gravel, which he said was not so good as it ought to be, but did not condemn it. But after we had carted it on to the works at considerable expense he then condemned it. 2. According to his instructions we sent men to wash the gravel in the river. When this lot reached Eangatira Station he refused to inspect it, and as he had in the meantime condemned all we had already carted, we had to suspend carting and unload trucks on station ground at extra expense. 3. We requested him to allow us to hire a trap to drive him to Porewa, ten miles distant, to see our process of washing, and also to inspect eleven truck-loads which were there. Though he consented to this, after we had driven him there, he refused even to look at the gravel on the trucks, at the same time well knowing he would not have another opportunity for some time, and also that delay was a serious loss to us. The consequence is we have thereby lost the only spell of good weather so far this season. 4. We also sent for fencers, who did the fencing on the Ashurst line under him, and as far as we could ascertain, from inquiries, they had given satisfaction with their work. But he (Mr. Campbell) told us he warned us that if we employed those men there would be no end of trouble while they were on the work, without giving any reason whatever. 5. We cannot get timber or fencing-posts from any one; the reason assigned being that they will not supply us if Mr. Campbell is Inspector, unless the posts are first passed in the bush, as no one knows what he will pass. 6. He has definitely expressed a personal bias against our Mr. Cleghorn, saying, " Keep him off the job altogether," thereby showing his usual tendency to strife and unwarrantable interference. The above charges, which we are ready to substantiate, place us at a serious disadvantage in our carrying out our contract. Indeed, with such actions, no reasonable price would be sufficient to do the concrete. The gravel he refused to inspect has since been passed by your Inspector, Mr. McMasters, and had it been done by Mr. Campbell, in the first instance, it would have saved us much expense and wrong. His general bearing towards us is tyrannical, abusive, and uncivil—in fact, such as no individual could tolerate from another without being at continual strife. Sir, this is a very serious matter to us, and we hope you will see fit to appoint us a new Inspector that strife maybe avoided. We are, &c, G. L. Cook, Esq., Eesident Engineer, Cleghorn, Forrest, and Magee. Palmerston North.

No. 2. The Acting Engini&r-in-Chief to the Eesident Engineer, Palmerston North. Public Works Office, Wellington, 14th April, 1891. The Eesident Engineer, Palmerston North. Be Mangaonoho contract —complaints against Inspector Campbell: A copy of the letter from the contractors for the above-mentioned contract to yourself, dated the 21st March last, making sundry