BETWEEN SHORTLAND AND TAURANGA.

7

No. 20. Mr. C. Lemon to Mr. E. V. Dixon. New Zealand Telegraph, Sir,— Head Office, Wellington, sth July, 1871. I am directed by the Hon. the Telegraph Commissioner to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 19th ultimo, with reference to the telegraph line between Tauranga and the Thames, and to inform you, in reply, that there are sufficient reasons why the work cannot be proceeded with, and that until the Government feels perfectly sure that it can be done without any interruption by the Natives, no further steps will be taken. I would beg to remind you that, on the 27th February last, you were informed that it was not then considered advisable to proceed with the undertaking. I have, Ac, C. Lemon, E. V. Dixon, Esq., Grahamstown. General Manager.

No. 21. Mr. McKenzie to the Hon. D. McLean. Snt,— Tararu, Ist April, 1871. I the undersigned hereby agree to deliver all telegraph poles required for the line from Tauranga to the Kati Kati Heads, all timber to pass your Inspector, at the rate of 405., and if erected, at the rate of 445. I am, Ac, The Hon. D. McLean, Hector McKenzie. Native and Defence Minister.

No. 22. Mr. Sheath to Mr. C. Lemon. (Telegram.) Auckland, 6th April. Urgent.—Contract entered into by Hen. Mr. McLean to carry line fram Tauranga to Kati Kati, thirty miles. First mile of posts to be erected first of May and contract completed tenth of June. Contract for supply, delivery, and erection of posts. Please telegraph who is to carry out the works and mark off the line. Letters per post. Alfred Sheath, District Inspector.

No. 23. The Hon. D. McLean to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sic, — General Government Offices, Auckland, 3rd April, 1871. I have deemed it advisable to authorize Mr. Sheath, District Inspector of Telegraphs, to enter into negotiations with Mr. Hector McKenzie, contractor, for the supply, delivery, and erection of about 600 telegraph posts, to continue the line of telegraph from Tauranga to Kati Kati, a distance of about thirty miles. This extension possesses a threefold advantage. It will, in the first place, considerably reduce the distance of carrying the mails between Tauranga and Shortland, while it cuts off the most difficult part of the journey. In the next place it carries the line to Aongatete River, a point that Mr. Commissioner Clarke considers the best adapted for branching off to Cambridge. Finally, it brings the line thirty miles nearer Shortland, should it ultimately be found necessary to carry the line in that direction. Looking to the advantages that will accrue, and bearing in mind the rapid approach of the winter, when outdoor work will be impeded, I have considered it prudent to push on this work without delay ; and consequently a contract will be signed by Mr. McKenzie and his sureties in the course of the week, for carrying out the work above mentioned, at tho rate of £2 per post, a price exceedingly moderate, owing no doubt to the fact of his having some 200 posts now at Tauranga, left over from his last contract. A clause is to be inserted in the agreement to terminate the contract in the event of any obstruction of the work by the Natives, through the act of the contractor or otherwise. I have, Ac, The Hon. J. Vogel. Donald McLean.

No. n. Mr. Sheath to Mr. C. Lemon. Sir, — New Zealand Telegraph, Auckland, sth April, 1871. The Hon. Mr. McLean has decided on carrying the line from Tauranga to Kati Kati, a distance of about thirty miles. This will cut off the most difficult part of the mail route between the Thames and Tauranga. He requested me to ascertain from Mr. McKenzie his minimum offer for carrying out the work, and to prepare the necessary deeds and specifications. The deed and specification coincide with those for the line between Pukoroko and Shortland, as far as possible.