E.—No. 6.

BETWEEN SHORTLAND AND TAURANGA.

13

No. 45. Mr. Floyd to Mr. C. Lemon. Ga., Ist July, 1871. No more poles erected since I reported last Saturday. McKenzie sent fifty-four down here on Monday, but I had to reject thirty-seven of them for sap; the remaining seventeen are lying here until the arrival of another cutter. lam getting on with wiring. Weather unfavourable most of this week, fine to-day. W. H. Floyd, Electrician.

No. 46. Mr. McKenzie to the Hon. D. McLean. (Telegram.) 20th July, 1871. I had to stop delivering the poles on the line from Tauranga to Kati Kati, as Mr. Floyd is condemning the most of the poles on the line. He says, does not know the sap from heart, so he trusts to other people. All I want is to send practical man or leave it to arbitration. lam willing to put up the line and then leave it to arbitration. I have now 143 poles on the line more than will finish. lam anxious to get it finished, and doing all in my power, but never will, the way lam used. Reply to Auckland or Tauranga. Hector McKenzie. Hon. Native Minister, Wellington.

No. 47. Mr. Floyd to Mr. C. Lemon, Wellington. Ga., 21st July, 1871. I examined 123 poles brought by McKenzie on 18th and 19th instant; accepted 48, rejected 75 — 30 of those rejected had bark on. The following note was brought to my camp this morning : — " Kati Kati, 19th July, 1871. Sir, —I am obliged to stop delivering till I hear from AVellington. Mr. Floyd. Hector McKenzie. The poles offered by McKenzie for this lino are as a lot thoroughly bad, the line I am making is over a most difficult country, and there are necessarily many long spans ; unless it is put up with the very best material, it cannot be expected to stand, and repairs in bad weather will be more than ordinarily difficult from the number of rivers, creeks, and swamps on the route. McKenzie has tried every possible argument and artifice to drive me of my line off duty or to deceive me ; having failed in both respects, he now appeals to Wellington. I am satisfied that I have not rejected a single pole that is up to or anywhere near the specification, and shall gladly hail investigation if the question is limited to "sap or no sap." He ordered his men to erect all the poles he brought. But I have taken measures to prevent that. W. H. Floyd, Electrician.

No. 48. Mr. C. Lemon to Mr. McKenzie. AVellington, 22nd July, 1871. The Hon. the Telegraph Commissioner requests me to inform you, in reply to your telegram to the Hon. Mr. McLean, that the Government will support Mr. Floyd in the rejection of the poles, which are evidently in violation of your contract; your proposals for arbitration cannot be entertained. I have, Ac, C. Lemon, Mr. Hector McKenzie, Contractor, Tauranga. General Manager.

No. 49. Mr. Floyd to Mr. C. Lemon. (Telegram.) Ga., 30th July, 1871. Following from McKenzie just to hand : —" Auckland, 27th July, 1871. Mr. Floyd. Sir, —I am going to put up the poles that I think that is up to specification, and stand the consequence when the job is finished.—l remain, yours respectfully, Hector McKenzie." I have just got in from camp —go ont again to-morrow. I shall in the absence of contrary orders resist any attempt made to erect rejected poles, and if they are laid on line, will split them up into firewood. W. H. Floyd. Electrician. 30th July 1871. I will be in Ga. office at five this evening, if you wish to speak to me re poles. W. 11. Floyd, Electrician. 4