D.—No. 8

4

CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO

No. 4 From Mr. Maude to Mr. Kennaway. Office of Eesident Minister for the Middle Island, N.Z., Christchurch, 7th March, 18727 Sir, As the surveys of the Branch Eailways have been commenced and rails have been ordered, I am directed by Mr. Eeeves to request that you will move his Honor the Superintendent to issue instructions for payment to the Public Works Account of a sum of Fifteen Thousand Pounds (£15,000) on account, in accordance with conditions agreed to. For tne information of the Provincial Government, I have to state that the surveys of the lines from Malvern, and from Eolleston to Southbridge, are being rapidly proceeded with ; and as soon as competent surveyors can be procured the remaining lines will be put in hand. Sufficient rails have been ordered by the January outgoing mail to extend 20 miles in length. I have, &c, Thomas Wm. Maude, Secretary.

No. 5. From Mr. Maude to Mr. Kennaway. Office of the Eesident Minister for the Middle Island, Christchurch, 7th March, 1872. Sic, I am directed by Mr. Eeeves to request that the subject of the Provincial contribution to the Branch Eailways, viz., —Forty-two Thousand Pounds, may be brought under notice of his Honor the Superintendent, in view of the money being disposed of to the satisfaction of both General and Provincial Governments in such a way as will secure its appropriation to the purposes for which it has been set aside. I shall be obliged if you will inform me what steps it is proposed to take to effect this object. I have, &c, Thomas Wm. Maude, Secretary.

No. 6. From Mr. Kennaway to Mr. Maude. Provincial Secretary's Office, Christchurch, Canterbury, N.Z., 20th March, 1872. Sic, In reply to your letter of the 7th inst., numbered as per margin (M. 1., 175-72), respecting the Provincial contribution towards the cost of the Branch Eailways proposed to be constructed within the Province of Canterbury, I have the honour, by direction of his Honor the Superintendent, to request that you will bring under the attention of the Hon. Eesident Minister the following proposals:— Ist. That the amount of the contribution, less the amount expended on the Selwyn Bridge on the line of the Eolleston and Southbridge Eailway, shall be placed in a separate Trust Account at the Bank of Australasia (to be called the Branch Eailway Account), to be operated on only for the purposes of the Branch Eailways, and not to be removed out of that account so long as the Provincial Government receive assurance from the General Government of their intention to proceed with the works. , 2dly. The money to be paid out in accordance with the enclosed resolution (No. 1) of the Provincial Council on definite contracts being entered into for the construction of the Branch Lines, or for the supply of material for the same. Should the Hon. the Eesident Minister desire it, the Provincial Government will be prepared to introduce an Ordinance into the Provincial Council at its next sitting, specially providing that the amount of the contribution shall be thus specifically set aside for the construction of the Branch Lines in question. With reference to your letter of the 7th inst., numbered as per margin (M. 1., 171-72), in which you request that his Honor the Superintendent shall issue instructions for payment of Fifteen Thousand Pounds (£15,000) on account of material ordered from England, and surveys in progress in connection with the Branch Lines, I have to request that you will furnish me with further particulars, viz.:— The estimated total cost of the material ordered and the surveys in progress ; and to what particular line or lines this expenditure is to be debited. On receiving this information, the Provincial Government will be in a position to determine what amount shall be paid over in accordance with the terms indicated at the interview held between the Eesident Minister and his Honor the Superintendent on the subject, and which were subsequently approved of by the Provincial Council in the No. 1 resolution (see enclosure in No. 2) I have enclosed. I have, &c, Walter Kennaway, Provincial Secretary.