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No. 4. The General Manager, Midland Railway Company, to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Christchureh, 9th February, 1897. Sir, —■ Midland Railway : Proposals for New Contract. On the 21st ultimo I had the honour to communicate with you on the above subject. I shall be glad to hear, at your convenience, that you have received my proposals. I have, &c, Norman H. M. Dalston, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. General Manager.

No. 5. The Under-Secretary for Public Works to the General Manager, Midland Eailway Company, Public Works Department, Wellington, 11th February, 1897. Sir, — Midland Raihvay. In reply to your letter of the 9th instant, respecting the proposals made by your company for a new contract, I have the honour, by direction of the Minister for Public Works, to acknowledge receipt of same, and to state that they will be submitted to the first full meeting of the Cabinet. I have, &c, N. H. M. Dalston, Esq., General Manager, H. J. H. Blow, Under-Secretary. New Zealand Midland Eailway Company (Limited), Christchureh.

No. 6. The General Manager, Midland Eailway Company, to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Christchureh, 15th February, 1897. Sir, Midland Raihvay. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, and beg to thank you for the information therein contained. I have, &c, Norman H. M. Dalston, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. General Manager.

No. 7. The Under- Secretaey for Public Works to the General Manager, Midland Eailway Company. Public Works Office, Wellington, 20th March, 1897. Sir, — Midland Railway : Proposals for a New Contract. Eeferring to my letter of the 11th ultimo hereon, I now have the honour, by direction of the Minister for Public Works, to inform you that your proposals have been considered in Cabinet this week, with the result that the Government is unable to see its way to entertain them. I have, &c., N. H. M. Dalston, Esq., H. J. H. Blow, Under-Secretary. General Manager, New Zealand Midland Eailway, Christehurch.

No. 8. The General Manager, Midland Railway Company, to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Christchureh, 31st March, 1897. g IK) Midland Railway : Proposals for a New Contract. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant informing me that Government is unable to see its way to entertain the proposals of the company as contained in my letter to you dated the 21st January, 1897. Will you kindly inform me if Government will be prepared to entertain the proposals above referred to if they are amended to the extent that the guarantee shall be limited to seventeen consecutive annual payments of £36,000, together with a balance payment in the eighteenth year after signing the new contract of £6,250? Under these proposed altered conditions the colony would not, of course, have any charge upon the traffic receipts as suggested in my proposals of the 20th January last. I have, &c, Norman H. M. Dalston, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington.. General Manager.