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No. 2. The Under-Secretary for Public Works to the General Manager, Midland Eailway Company. (Telegram.) Public Works Office, Wellington, 14th December, 1889. Be your* letter of 4th instant on subject of deviation railway at Lake Brunner. Have been in correspondence with Minister on this subject for some days, but matter not yet decided. Will let you have reply as soon as possible. . C. Y. O'Connor. B. Wilson, Esq., Engineer-in-Chief, &c, Midland Eailway, Christchurch.

No. 3. The Hon. the Minister for Public Works to the General Manager, Midland Eailway Company. Sir, - Public Works Office, Wellington, 26th February, 1890. - I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th December last, on the subject of a proposed deviation from the surveyed line of the Midland Eailway near Lake Brunner, and inquiring whether—in the event of a detailed survey showing that the proposed deviation really possesses the advantages over the surveyed line which a preliminary examination of the ground seems to indicate—the Government will be prepared to recommend His Excellency the Governor to consent to the same, in terms of clause 4 of the company's contract of the 3rd of August, 1888. In reply thereto, and in reference to the several interviews which have taken place between yourself and the Hon. Mr. Eichardson and myself on the subject, I have now the honour to state that this matter has received the careful consideration of the Cabinet, with the result that it has been decided to have an examination made, by one of the principal Government Engineers, of the country which would be traversed by the proposed deviation, and a full report prepared on the relative advantages and disadvantages of the contract and deviation lines. On receipt of this report the question will again receive full consideration; but, as the Government is advised that it is doubtful whether the Governor has the power to consent to such extensive deviations as the one now proposed, the company should not be unprepared for the final decision of the matter having to be deferred until opportunity has occurred of laying the proposal before Parliament for consideration. I have, &c, T. Fergus, Minister for Public Works. E. Wilson, Esq., C.E., Engineer-in-Chief, &c, Midland Eailway, Christchurch.

No. 4. The Assistant Under-Secretary for Public Works to the Grneral Manager, Midland Eailway Company. (Telegram.) Public Works Office, Wellington, 26th February, 1890. Mr. O'Connor, who is leaving Auckland to-morrow on his way to Wellington and West Coast to report on proposed deviation near Lake Brunner, wishes to know whether you think that it would be best for him to proceed to Coast via Christchurch or Nelson. Question probably depends on where he could meet you most conveniently. Kindly let me know soon, and I will wire Mr. O'Connor. H. J. H. Blow, Assistant Under-Secretary for Public Works. E. Wilson, Esq., Midland Eailway, Christchurch.

No. 5. The General Manages, Midland Eailway Company, to the Assistant Under-Secretary for Public Works. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 27th February, 1890. Either way will do. If he goes via Nelson, Napier Bell will meet him and make arrangement, to whom please wire. If he goes via Christchurch, ask Napier Bell meet him with horses at Jackson's, from which point can see most of country. I will try meet Mr. O'Connor, but if impossible Napier Bell will act as substitute. H. J. H. Blow, Esq., Public Works, Wellington. Eobert Wilson.

No. 6. The General Manager, Midland Eailway Company, to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. (Telegram.) _. Christchurch, 29th March, 1890. Have you decided to consent deviation Lake Brunner? ' *CS»Bra. Hon. T. Fergus, Wellington. Eobert Wilson.