D.—3a

2

The Engineer-in-Chief, Midland Eailway, to the Hon. the Peemiee. Midland Bailway: Proposals for a New Contract. Sic, — Wellington Club, Wellington, 10th September, 1894. Eeferring to my letter of the 4th instant, I have the honour to inform you that the New Zealand Midland Bailway Company (Limited) accept the terms of the report of the Select Committee, enclosed in your letter of the 29th ultimo, as a basis of the new contract. I shall be glad, however, if you will be good enough to make provision in the new contract for clauses (b) and (c) in your letter of the 18th July last, of which no mention is made in the report. I have, &c. : , The New Zealand Midland Eailway Company. Eobert Wilson, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Engineer-in-Chief and General Manager.

The Under-Secretary, Public Works to the Engineee-in-Chief, Midland Eailway. Midland Bailway: Proposals for a New Contract. . Sir, — Public Works Office, Wellington, 10th September, 1894. I am directed by the Hon. the Premier to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of 4th and sth instant on the above subject, and, in reply, to state that the Government is unable to proceed with the preparation of the proposed new contract, or the Bill to authorise the same, until you have, on behalf of your company, definitely accepted the proposals of the Midland Eailway Committee. Your letter of 4th instant goes outside the terms of the Committee's report in two particulars, and I am to state that the Government is unable to see its way to consent to any variation of the terms proposed by the Committee. If, however, you will favour the Premier with a written intimation of your acceptance of the terms proposed, the preparation of the Bill to authorise the new contract will be proceeded with immediately. I have, &c, H. J. H. Blow, Under-Secretary for Public Works. Eobert Wilson, Esq., Wellington Club, Wellington.

The Undee-Seceetaey, Public Woeks to the Engineee-in-Chief, Midland Eailway. Midland Railway: Proposals for a New Contract. Slß,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 10th September, 1894. I am directed by the Premier to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day's date, in which you state that the New Zealand Midland Eailway Company (Limited) accepts the terms of the report of the Select Committee, enclosed in letter from this office of 29th ultimo, as the basis for the new contract. As regards your allusion to paragraphs (b) and (c) in letter of 18th July last, however, I am to state that the Government is unable to see its way to go beyond the report of the Committee, which makes no allusion to these matters. I have, &c, H. J. H. Blow, Under-Secretary for Public Works. Eobert Wilson, Esq., Wellington Club, Wellington.

RATES AND FARES TO BE CHARGED FIVE MILES EXTRA. Proposed Maximum Passenger Fares for Operation over Midland Company's Line.

Single. Return. Single. Eeturn. No. of Miles. No. ot Miles. First. Second. First. Second. First. Second. First. Second. 1 2 3 i 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 .1(1 17 s. a. 0 8 0 8 1 0 1 3 1 6 1 8 1 11 2 1 2 4 2 8 2 11 3 4 3 6 3 8 4 0 4 2 4 6 s. a. 0 6 0 6 0 8 0 10 1 0 1 1 1 3 1 5 1 7 1 10 2 0 2 1 2 4 2 6 2 8 2 10 3 1 s. d. 0 8 1 0 1 3 1 7 1 11 2 3 2 6 2 10 3 1 3 6 3 11 4 2 4 7 4 11 5 4 5 7 6 0 s. a. 0 6 0 8 1 0 1 1 1 3 1 6 1 8 1 10 2 1 2 5 2 8 2 10 3 1 3 4 3 6 3 9 4 1 18 19 20 '21 22 23 21 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 s. d. 4 9 5 0 5 3 5 7 5 9 6 1 6 3 6 7 6 10 7 1 7 4 7 8 7 10 8 2 8 4 8 9 8 11 s. a.. 3 2 3 4 3 7 3 8 3 11 4 1 4 2 4 5 4 7 4 9 4 11 5 2 5 3 5 5 5 8 5 9 6 0 s. d. 6 3 6 8 7 0 7 5 7 8 8 1 8 4 8 9 9 1 9 6 9 9 10 2 10 5 10 10 11 3 11 7 11 10 s. d. 4 2 4 6 4 9 4 11 5 2 5 5 5 7 5 10 6 2 6 3 6 7 6 10 7 0 7 3 7 6 7 8 7 11