1.—7.

20

Messrs. Brogden and Sons to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sir, — Wellington, 11th March, 1881. We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, for which we are obliged, and have forwarded under separate cover revised accounts of the following contracts:* Waitara-New Plymouth, Taieri Contract, Napier-Pakipaki, Clutha Platelayiug, Kakanui and Island Creek Bridges. The remainder shall be forwarded in a few days ; and when you have received them we shall be glad to hear further from you. We defer referring to the other subjects named in your letter ; but with regard to the discrepancy in the money charged against us for our contracts for works we note the explanation that "it is for bonuses paid to us." As it is not therefore chargeable against sums due for works, we presume you will have the error corrected at once. The Hon. E. Oliver, We have, &c, Minister for Public Works, Wellington. John Brogues and Sons.

Messrs. Brogden and Sons to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sie, — Wellington, 14th March, 1881. We have the honor to forward you under separate cover our claims on the contract for works, viz., Invercargill and Mataura Eailway, Picton and Blenheim Railway, Newmarket—Mercer Eailway, Auckland Station-ground, Auckland to Newmarket, Onehunga Branch. We have still to furnish you with the accounts for the Oamaru and Moeraki Eailway, which will be ready in a few days. As you have now, however, all but this one, we think we are entitled to ask you to inform us what course you propose to adopt with reference to them. The Hon. E. Oliver, We have, &c, Minister for Public Works, Wellington. John Brogden and Sons.

Messrs. Brogden and Sons to the Hon. the Minima;::: Tor Public Works. Oamam to Moeraki Railway, Moeraki Contract. Sib,— Wellington, 23rd March, 1881. We have the honor to enclose,* in accordance with the request in your letter of the 9th instant, account and particulars of the claims by us in respect of the Oamaru to Moeraki Railway, "Moeraki Contract," amounting to £225,438 9s, 7d., and which we ask the Government to consider. The reductions from the contract sum, according to Mr. Conyers's estimate of " value of works left unfinished," are £1,671 65., and we estimate further reductions amounting to about £7,000; but we await particulars from the Government before adopting this amount. The amount of cash received on this contract was £152,928 4s. lid., and a further sum of £4,233 6s. 7d.,as shown on the statement of 28th February, 1879, leaving the cash actually received at £157,161 11s. 6d. We have charged the extra works at schedule prices where they can be applied. We have, &c, The Hon. E. Oliver, John Bkogden and Sons. Minister for Public Works, Wellington.

Messrs. Brogden and Sons to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sir,— Wellington, 23rd March, 1881. We have the honor to mention that we have now forwarded to you our claims in detail for works, &c., upon each of our contracts. The amounts may be considered definite, but we reserve the right to alter the form and terms as may be necessary to meet any objections which the Government may make. The Hon. E. Oliver, We have, &c, Minister for Public Works, Wellington. John Brogden and Sons.

The TTnder-Seceetary for Public Works to Messrs. Beogden and Sons. Gentlemen, — Wellington, 25th March, 1881. In the absence of the Minister for Public Works, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, in which you state that you reserve the right to alter the form and terms of the claims you have sent in as you may find necessary. I have, &c, John Knowles, Messrs. J. Brogden and Sons, Wellington. XJnder-Secretary for Public Works.

Messrs. Brogden and Sous to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sib,— Wellington, 25th March, 1881. We have the honor to refer to a letter received from the Government (P.W. 7G-5640), under date 12th March, 1877, which states that the Minister for Public Works directs that sums amounting to £3,325 ss. will require to be deducted from moneys due to us on account of certain penalties having been incurred on the Moeraki Contract, and Kakanui and Island Creek Bridges Contract. We cannot recognize the right of the Government to make any such deduction, as the delays were caused entirely by the action of the Government, over which we had no control. We give a few of our reasons for coming to this conclusion. The earthwork in several positions was delayed for several months at the request of the Government, and delays have been occasioned by slips in cuttings, deviations of line, alterations, extras, and additions.

* The claims of 1881, printed for use of the Government Law Officers.