D.—sc.

2

No. 2. The Under-Seceetaey, Public Works Department, to Messrs. Izaed and Bell. Gentlemen, — Public Works Office, Wellington, New Zealand, 21st July, 1882. I am directed by the Minister for Public Works to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th July, forwarding the draft contract and plans of the proposed Kaihu Valley Eailway, to be constructed under " The Eailway Construction and Land Act, 1881," which will be considered. I have, &c, John Knowles, Messrs. Izard and Bell, Wellington. Under-Secretary for Public Works.

No. 3. Messrs. Izaed and Bell to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Kaihu Valley Railway Company. Sir,— Wellington, 25th July, 1882. Referring to our letter of the 19th instant on the above matter, we have now the honour to enclose a plan showing Government land which is adjacent to the terminus of the proposed line and available for grant to the company in aid of the cost of construction as provided by " The Railways Construction and Land Act, 1881." The portion coloured pink is that part of such lands which the directors propose should be so granted to the company. We are informed that some objection may be offered with reference to the block marked " surveyed land " in pencil on the plan on the ground that it has been surveyed by the Government. We are, however, instructed to submit that it is essential that this block should be included, and that the company could not undertake the construction of the railway without it. The block is not now worth a large sum, but it will be greatly enhanced in value by the construction of the proposed railway. The immediately-surrounding country is of little value, and the proposed increased area would in no way be an equivalent to the company for the loss of the surveyed block. The company would not object, if the Government insist, that in estimating the value of lands to be granted to the company, the expense already incurred by the Government in connection with this block should be taken into consideration ; nor would they object to any reasonable restrictions as to the manner in which and the time within which it should be sold. It is expected that the first section of the line will be completed and open for traffic within a year. We trust that the Government will see its way to provide in the contract for the grant to the company of the land coloured pink on the enclosed plan. We have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Izard and Bell. P.S.—We understand that the Hon. the Minister for Lands and the Secretary for Crown Lands have been informed of the above proposals.—l. and B.

No. 4. The Assistant Undee-Secretaby, Public Works Department, to Messrs. Izard and Bell. Gentlemen, — Public Works Office, Wellington, New Zealand, 29th July, 1882. I am directed by the Minister for Public Works to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th July forwarding plan of land adjacent to the proposed Kaihu Valley Eailway. I have, &c, C. T. Benzoni, Messrs. Izard and Bell, Wellington. Assistant Under-Secretary for Public Works.

No. 5. Messrs. Izaed and Bell to the Under-Secretaey, Public Works Department Kaihu Valley Railway Company. Sib,— Wellington, Bth August, 1882. As we understand that the Solicitor-General requires evidence of the formation of the company, we have the honour to enclose—(l) Certificate of the incorporation, dated the 12th July, 1882 ; (2) list of persons who signed the memorandum of association. We have the honour to request that both documents may be returned to us when seen and noted. We have, &c, The Under-Secretary for Public Works, Wellington. Izaed and Bell.

Enclosure 1 in No. 5. New Zealand. Certificate of Incorporation of the Kaihu Valley Railway Company (Limited) under " The JointStock Companies Act, 1860." I, David Mitchell Luckie, Registrar of Joint Stock Companies, do hereby certify that the Kaihu Valley Eailway Company (Limited) is incorporated under " The Joint-Stock Companies Act, 1860." Given under my hand at Wellington, this twelfth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two. D. M. Luckie, Eegistrar of Joint-Stock Companies.