D.—6b

1886. NEW ZEALAND.

PURCHASE OF DISTRICT RAILWAYS. (LIST OF EXISTING DISTRICT RAILWAY COMPANIES WHO HAVE MADE APPLICATION TO GOVERNMENT TO PURCHASE THEIR RAILWAYS.)

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr. Bichardson, with the Leave of the House.

List of Existing District Railway Companies who have made Application to Government to purchase their Railways.

No. 1. The Nightcaps Coal Company to the Hon. the Minister for Public Wokks. Ee Purchase of Nightcaps Railway. Sib, — Nightcaps Coal Company, Invercargill, 18th May, 1885. We beg again to renew our application of the 17th December last re the purchase of this line (belonging to our company) by your Government, and in doing so desire to point out a fewfacts and figures in support of our application, together with a map of the district through which the railway travels, and a copy of your District Engineer's report on the cost and value of the line, from all of which we feel confident you will admit the reasonableness and justice of our request, which you may rest assured would not be repeated without good and urgent cause. We understand that any objections you had to the purchase of this railway were owing to the steepness of the inclines on one portion of the line only. Mr. John Eoberts lias, we understand, interviewed yourself and Mr. Blair, who, on again looking into the matter, informed him that, by a slight expenditure in reducing these grades, the line would fall in with the requirements of your railway-system. From Mr. Dartnall's telegram of the 17th April, 1884, to the Engineer in Charge of the Middle Island, he estimates the first cost at £7,224, not taking into account the weighbridge, two coal sidings, and loss of interest during construction. We would respectfully request that you would again consider the advisability of your Government purchasing this line, and we would be willing to accept the above sum, less the cost of making the necessary alteration in the grades. This company was originally formed under promise from the Government of every assistance being given, they undertaking to use the coal on the railways, provided price and quality were suitable, which conditions have been amply verified during the last three years.

Date of Application. Public Works Record. Name of Company. Amount. 1885. May 18 ... 1886. rune 21 1879. STov. 17 ... 1886. Fune 9 1885. Dec. 16 ... 85/2954 86/2994 Nightcaps Coal Company's Kaihvay Whauwhau Colliery Branch Eaihvay- £ 7,224 5,367 79/5234 Shag Point Coal Company's Eailway 8,025 E. 86/1900 Ocean Beach Eailway, Dunedin 11,500 84/6697 Pernhill Coal Company's Eailway* ... 6,000 )t indicate the amount which they wished to receive for their railv Is to have been about £6,000, that amount is inserted here for inform: £38,116 * The comps ;he cost of it is 1 iny in this case did in mown by office record pay, but, as ation.