17

E.—7a,

No. 33. Messrs. Webb and Fulton to the Hon. Mr. Richardson. Sir,— Dunedin, 26th April, 1873. We are obliged by your letter of 15th instant, the tenor of which has caused us much disappointment, as we had hoped that an offer to lease the Port Chalmers, Clutha, and Tuapeka Railways would have been deemed of sufficient importance to lead you to abstain from actually concluding any arrangement with the Provincial Government until it had been considered by the Cabinet. It was in this view, and not merely, as you suggest, that the Government might "be informed that there are persons here willing to lease the railways on fair terms," that we asked that our letter might be placed before your honorable colleagues. We shall take it as a favour if, when you lay our offer before the Government, you will also submit the inquiry which we now make, viz.:—Whether, in the event of the Provincial Government consenting, the General Government will be prepared to seek powers from the Assembly to enable them to grant to our constituents a lease of the lines indicated, on such terms as may in such case be arranged. We are, &c, The Hon. E. Richardson, Minister of Public Works, AVebb and Fulton. Dunedin.

No. 34. Under Secretary, Public Works, to Messrs. Webb and Fulton. Gentlemen, — Public Works Office, AVellington, 9th May, 1873. I am directed by the Hon. Mr. Bichardson to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th April, relative to leasing the Dunedin Railway from the Government, and in reply, to inform you that Mr. Richardson will have much pleasure in complying with the request contained in the last paragraph of your communication. I have, &c, John Knowles, Messrs. AVebb and Fulton, Dunedin. Under Secretary.

No. 35. DuNEDIN AND POKT CIIALMERS RAILWAY. 1. Amount paid for line to Messrs. Proudfoot and Oliver, &c, £ s. d. £ s. d. Cash for line .. .. .. .. 75,000 0 0 Debentures ditto .. .. .. .. 100,000 0 0 Cash additional locomotives, rolling stock, &c. .. 2,500 0 0 177,500 0 0 2. Amount paid for extras and to whom paid,— Plant and material extra, Proudfoot, Oliver, and Ulph .. 9,440 0 0 3. Names of valuators and amount of remuneration paid,— H. Driver, one-half charges .. .. .. .. 138 15 0 4. Any moneys paid to other parties than those already referred to, stating the services rendered for such payments, — Travelling allowances, Hon. Mr. Bathgate .. £4 4 0 Travelling allowances and expenses, Mr. Higginson .. .. .. .. 18 0 9 Clerical assistance, Mr. Logic .. .. 4 0 0 Legal charges, Mr. Haggitt .. .. 1 2 10 27 7 7 £187,106 2 7 Public Works Office, 13th September, 1873. > By Authority: Geokgb Didsbtjxy, Government Printer. "Wellington. [Price Is.]