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again, as the information at hand is amply sufficient for the purpose of a rough estimate, and would even be sufficient to guide the clearing of the timber, if the construction of a railway be determined on. I have, &c, The Hon. W. Reeves, C. T. O'Connok, Minister for Middle Island, Christchurch. District Engineer, Westland. Portion of the present Population of the Count// of Westland who would be more or less beneficially affected by the Construction of Railway from Greymouth to Boss, Aggregate Population. Greymouth Borough ... ... ... 2,181 ... 2,181 Greymouth to Teremakau, say ... ... 1,500 ... 2,358 Teremakau to Arahura, say ... ... 2,000 ... 2,139 Hokitika Borough ... ... ... 3,572 ... 3,572 Hokitika to the Wanganui River, including} Ross township and the surrounding > 2,875 ... 2,875 workings ) Total benefited 12,128 f Aggregate| 13,125 ' (population ) ' The population of the county south of the Wanganui River (564 in all) would also be beneficially affected, but as possible passengers on the line only, their supplies being landed at Okarita roadstead, a point about forty miles below Ross. Timber Trade. Quantity of sawn timber exported from Hokitika ... 70,000 superficial feet weekly. By calculation, the quantity of green timber equivalent to a ton in weight would be 600 superficial feet, but it is usually charged freight, by tramway, at the rate of 400 superficial feet per ton. For traffic returns given below the calculated rate has been assumed as correct. Present Consumption of Fuel. Cost. At Hokitika, wood, 40 cords per week ... ... ... £1 4 0 per cord „ „ coal, 30 tons „ ... ... ... 2 0 0 „ ton „ Ross, wood, 100 cords „ ... ... ... 14 0,, cord „ „ coal, 3 tons „ ... ... ... 6 5 0,, ton Probable immediate Consumption of Coal if delivered by Railway at Gd. per ton per mile (measuring from pit), with 10s. per ton added for excavation, Sfc. At Hokitika, 40 tons per week, at ... ... ... £1 6 0 per ton „ „ for export, 50 tons per week, at ... ... 16 0 „ „ Kanieri, 10 tons per week, at ... ... ... 1 16 0 „ „ Ross, 20 tons per week, at ... ... ... ... 1 14 0 ,, Probable immediate Traffic Returns of Greymouth and Ross Railway. Weekly. Coal, 90 tons, carried 24 miles, at 12s. per ton ... ... £50 8 0 20 „ „ 39£ „ 20s. „ ... ... 20 0 0 Merchandize, 12 „ „ 10 „ 5s. „ ... 3 0 0 10 „ „ 6 „ 3s. „ ... ... 1 10 0 20 „ „ 15i „ 7s. 9d. „ ... ... 7 15 0 Timber, 60 „ „ 3 „ Is. 6d. „ ... ... 4 10 0 Passengers, 60 „ 24 „ 24s. ... ... 72 0 0 50 „ 154 „ 15s. 6d. ... ... 38 15 0 Total immediate returns which might be expected ... £197 18 0 As it is probable that the development of mining now being attained by increased facilities in internal communication, the contemplated water-races, if constructed, and the opening of Inangahua reefs, will all tend to increase traffic and population, the probable future returns of this line might be set down at, say, double the above —viz., £396 per week. By Authority : Q-eobgb Didsbuet, Government Printer, Wellington.—1877. Price 6d.]