D.—6

18

I am instructed to inform you that, while my directors are most anxious to do everything to arrive at a friendly and satisfactory settlement, they must impress upon the Government that any further delay will seriously injure the prospects of the company; and lam also instructed to cable any information or decision which you may advise me the Cabinet has arrived at. I have, &c, Eobert Wilson, Engineer-in-Chief and General Manager, New Zealand Midland Eailway Company (Limited). The Hon. the Premier, Wellington.

No. 31. The Under Secretary for Public Works to the General Manager, Midland Eailway Company. Public Works Department, Wellington, 18th July, 1893. Sir, — Ec Midland Bailway : Proposals for a Neiu Contract. I am directed by the Minister for Public Works to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date on the above-mentioned subject, and, in reply, to state that the proposals of the company have been referred to the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer for advice as to their financial aspect, and to the Eailway Commissioners as to the proposal that the Government should purchase the Belgrove-Motueka Section for £100,000. I have, &c, H. J. H. Blow, E. Wilson, Esq., General Manager, Under-Secretary for Public Works, New Zealand Midland Eailway Company, Wellington Club, Wellington.

No. 32. The Secretary to the Eailway Commissioners to the Under-Secretary for Public Works. New Zealand Government Eailways, Head Office, Wellington, 26th July, 1893. Midland Baihuay : New Contract. In reply to your memorandum of 18th instant, requesting the Commissioners' opinion upon the proposals submitted by the New Zealand Midland Eailway Company for the extension and subsequent working and purchase of the Belgrove-Motueka Section, and the working of the Springfield extension, I am directed to say that, before the Commissioners can go into these matters, they will require to be furnished with plans of the lines referred to, showing alignment, &c. They would be glad to be informed if the company is under any requirement to provide rolling-stock for the Belgrove Section ; and, if so, to what extent ? The Under-Secretary for Public Works. E. G. Pilcher, Secretary.

No. 33. The Under-Secretary for Public Works to the Eailway Commissioners. Public Works Department, Wellington, 27th July, 1893. Ec Midland Bailway : Proposals for a Neiu Contract. With reference to your memorandum of yesterday's date, stating that before the Commissioners can express an opinion upon the Midland Eailway Company's proposals with regard to the extension, &c, of the Belgrove Section to Motueka, and the working of the Belgrove and Springfield Sections, they will require to be furnished with plans showing the alignment, &c, of the sections of railway referred to, I have now the honour, by direction of the Minister for Public Works, to forward to you herewith this department's original contract-plans of the Springfield Section, P.W.D. 16526, and of the Belgrove Section at present under construction, P.W.D., 16654. I am to state, however, that there are no plans in possession of the Government of the proposed extension of the Belgrove Section to the Motueka Valley, but it is understood that the line will be on a descending gradient all the way, the limit being 1 in 40, and no curves sharper than 1\ chains. As the plans forwarded herewith are the only copies we have, I must ask the Commissioners to kindly return them; but if copies of the same are desired for record purposes, they can be supplied on the return of the originals. With regard to your request to be informed whether the company is under any requirement to provide rolling-stock for the Belgrove Section, and if so, to what extent: the Commissioners would appear to have overlooked the latter portion of clause 3 of my memorandum of the 18th instant, which reads as follows: "Any additional rolling-stock that may be required for the working of the Belgrove-Motueka Section to be either provided by the company, or the company to pay interest on the cost of providing the same," and which gives the information required, I think. H. J. H. Blow, The Eailway Commissioners, Wellington. Under-Secretary for Public Works.