E.—No. 6,

4

PAPERS RELATING TO EXTENSION OE TELEGRAPH

Enclosure in No. 4. Tender of Dixon Bros., Auckland. Tender for Telegraph from Shortland to Tauranga — about 120 Miles. Auckland, Bth July, 1870. We, the undersigned, hereby agree to furnish and erect totara poles, fix insulators (for two lines), stretch the wire, and complete it in accordance with usual Government specification. The Government to find the wire and insulators. The line to be given up to the Government in efficient order in twelve months from signing the contract, or sooner if possible. Payments to be made in the usual way as the line progresses. For the sum of £5,000. E. V. Dixon, pro Dixon Bros. G. Byrk Allen.

No. 5. Mr. G. S. Cooper to Mr. Dixon. Sir,— Colonial Defence Office, Wellington, 28th July, 1870. I am instructed by the Defence Minister to inform you, in reply to your letter of the Bth instant, that the Government has accepted your tender (of same date) to erect the telegraph line from Shortland to Tauranga, via Ohinemutu, for the sum of £5,000. You will be furnished with full specifications, and instructions as to the manner in which the work is to be carried out, from the General Manager of the Telegraph Department. I have, Ac, G. S. Cooper, E. V. Dixon, Esq., Auckland. Under Secretary.

No. 6. Mr. C. Lemon to Mr. Dixon. Sir, — New Zealand Telegraph, Head Office, Wellington, 30th July, 1870. I am directed by the Hon. the Defence Minister to request that you will be good enough to furnish me, at as early a date as possible, with details of the route that you and your brother have travelled over, and which you have fixed upon for the carrying of the telegraph line between Tauranga and Shortland, in order that the same may be included in the specification of the works under which your contract has been accepted, in accordance with the terms of your tender dated Bth July, 1870. 1 have, Ac, C. Lemon, E. V. Dixon, Esq., Auckland. General Manager.

No. 7. Mr. Dixon to Mr. C. Lemon. Sic,— Auckland, 10th August, 1870. lam in receipt of yours of 30th July, 1870, requesting details of proposed route. I enclose a tracing showing the route as nearly as I can in the absence of a proper survey. You will greatly oblige by forwarding the specification at as early a date as possible, as we are anxious to proceed with the work. I have, Ac, To the General Manager of the Telegraph Department, Wellington. E. V. Dixon.

No. 8. The Hon. Dr. Pollen to Messrs. Dixon Brothers. Gentlemen, — General Government Offices, Auckland, 22nd August, 1870. With reference to your undertaking to carry a telegraph line from Shortland to Tauranga by way of Ohinemuri, I have to request that, pending the receipt of further instructions from the Colonial Government, you will not commence operations, or enter into any contract, or make any arrangements involving the expenditure of money on account of any work on the proposed line. 1 have, Ac, Messrs. Dixon Brothers, Auckland. Daniel Pollen, A.G.G.

No. 9. Mr. G. S. Cooper to the Hon. Dr. Pollen. Sib, — Colonial Defence Office, Wellington, 6th September, 1870. In reference to the correspondence which has taken place upon the subject of the construction of the line of telegraph between Shortland and Tauranga, 1 have the honor to request that you will inform Messrs Dixon that, in consequence of the Native difficulties which have arisen, it is not the intention of the Government to proceed any further at present with the work. I have, Ac, (for the Defence Minister), The Hon. Dr. Pollen, Auckland. G. S. Cooper.