D.—No. 10,

12

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE PROPOSED

The details necessary for this and other matters are at present under consideration; but I have thought it necessary to allude to them,, in order to invite any suggestions with regard to them which may occur to you or to your clients, the Government of Nelson Province; at least, that they may prepare such statements for the information of the pioneer commission to which I have alluded. In conclusion, I may say that, pending these necessary precautions, there appears nothing, in the opinion of those I have consulted, to prevent the successful formation of such a company, even at the present unfavourable moment: and that at all events enough capital could be raised, especially from the industrial classes in this country, to enable the line to be commenced at an early date, while the progress of its development would, it is believed, speedily lead to the discovery and better appreciation of those sources of mineral wealth from which the company would, in all human probability, derive a a very large dividend. I am, &c, John Morrison, Esq., London. Francis C. Maude, Colonel.

Enclosure 7 in No. 4. The Peovincial Seceetaey, Nelson, to John Moeeison, Esq., London. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Nelson, Bth July, 1869. I am directed by the Superintendent to forward herewith, for the perusal of persons making inquiries in reference to the Nelson and Cobden Bailway a number of copies of the Conditions of leasing the Brunner Coal Mine, and Standing Orders framed in accordance with the provisions of " The Compulsory Land-taking Act, 1866," adopted by the Provincial Council of Nelson, June 19, 1868, and approved by His Excellency the Governor, July 22, 1868. I have, &c, George Hodgson, To John Morrison, Esq., London. For Provincial Secretary.

Enclosure 8 in No. 4. The Superintendent, Nelson, to John Morrison, Esq., London. House of Eepresentatives, Sic,— Wellington, New Zealand, Bth July, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (No. 93) of the 22nd April, in reference to my letter (No. 14) of the 4th January last. In reply to your inquiry as to whether it is the intentiom of the Government that the sum of one hundred pounds per annum, which they proposed to pay to you so long as the duty of conducting negotiations for the construction of the Nelson and Cobden Bailway is intrusted to you should be considered to cover necessary expenses you may have to incur for legal and engineering advice, I have to inform you that the view of the Government was that the sum referred to should bo deemed sufficient to reimburse you for all expenses incurred during preliminary negotiations only. But it was the intention of the Government that necessary expenditure for professional advice, both legal and engineering, if required, should be defrayed by them from funds exclusive of the £100 per annum when such negotiations with persons of influence and command of capital arrived at a point to justify you in considering that there was a reasonable probability that a definite contract would be entered into. You will therefore consider yourself authorized, under the circumstances above stated, to avail yourself of such professional advice as you may consider necessary, and all reasonable charges under that head will be refunded to you. I have, &c. Oswald Cuetis, John Morrison, Esq., London. Superintendent.

Enclosure 9 in No. 4. The Superintendent, Nelson, to John Morrison, Esq., London. House of Eepresentatives, Sic,— Wellington, New Zealand, 9th July, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th April, enclosing copies of letters from Mr. Fitzgibbon to yourself, and from Messrs. Sir C. Fox and Sons to Mr. Fitzgibbon. In reference to the remarks of Messrs. Fox and Sons and Mr. Fitzgibbon, I will only observe that this Government wras already aware that the most certain method of procuring the construction of the railway would be to make it themselves by means of a loan raised for the purpose, or, what is nearly the same thing, by means of a guaranteed interest offered to capitalists who will undertake its construction. The Government have long since fully considered both these courses, and it was not till they had decided that the present available resources of the Province would not justify them in incurring so large a liability, that they determined to submit for the consideration of English capitalists the proposals with which you are intrusted. I have, &c., Oswald Curtis, John Morrison, Esq., London. Superintendent.