D.—l 4

2

your request, but that, if the Commissioners will be good enough to indicate which portion of the return they are unable to supply without the land-plans, he will have the same prepared in this office if possible. H. J. H. Blow, Under-Secretary for Public Works.

No. 4. Q?he Sbceetaey, Bailway Department, to the Undeb-Secbetaey for Public Woeks. In re Order of the House of Bepresentatives, dated 23rd September, 1892, for Beturn of Areas of Land acquired for Bailway Purposes, do. New Zealand Government Bailways, Head Office, The Under-Secretary for Public Works. Wellington, 30th December, 1892. Befebbing to your memorandum of the 23rd December, informing the Bailway Commissioners that the Minister does not see his way to hand over the land-plans, &c, of the railways vested in the Commissioners which have on previous occasions been requested from the Public Works Department, I am directed by the Commissioners to draw attention to the fact that all such plans and documents are by virtue of the Government Bailways Act the property of the Bailway Commissioners, and are improperly detained by the Public Works Department. lam further directed to draw attention to the peculiar action followed in this matter. By direction of the Minister you sent on the 30th September, 1892, a copy of an order of the House of Bepresentatives for certain information respecting railway lands, which can only be conveniently compiled from documents which are the property of the Commissioners and which are detained by the Public Works Department. The Minister, in transmitting this order, requests that the Commissioners will be good enough to furnish to him a return in compliance with the order. Upon the Commissioners asking for the documents by letter of the 2nd November, 1892, it is intimated to them, by your letter of the 23rd December, 1892, that the Minister for Public Works is unable to see his way to accede to the request, but that he will have such portion of the return as cannot be supplied without the landplans prepared in the Public Works Office, if possible. As the documents and plans involved in compiling this return will amount to some thousands, and the areas and valuations also to several thousands, it is obvious that the refusal of the Minister to hand over the complete documents and records in proper order practically prevents the Commissioners complying with the order of the House or making out any part of the return correctly; and, under the peculiar circumstances, the Commissioners can only request that the Minister will be pleased to lay this letter on the table of the House next session. E. G. Pilchee, Secretary.

RETURN IN RESPECT OP SECTION 3 OP ORDER OP HOUSE. This is compiled from the returns of railway lands leased which are laid before Parliament annually, in pursuance of sections 165-168 of " The Public Works Act, 1882," viz.: — Leases op Bailway Peopeety. House of Bepresentatives No. 44 ... i Presented 20 June, 1883 ... j Not printed. ' „ 98 ... : „ 13 July, 1883 ... „ 211 ...i „ 6 Sept., 1883 ... j „ 43 ... ; „ 23 Sept., 1884 ... Printed, H.-19. „ § „ 17 June, 1884 ... „ H.-19a. „ 30 ... ! „ 16 June, 1885 ... „ (L.C.), No. 10. „ 229 ... „ 15 Sept., 1885 ... Not printed. „ 34 ... „ 19 May, 1886 ... Printed (L.C.), No. 6. „ 210 ... „ 6 Aug., 1886 ... „ (L.C.), No. 6a. „ 67 ... „ 10 May, 1887 ... „ D.-11. „ 73 ... „ 31 May, 1888 ... Not printed. „ 266 ... „ 29 Aug., 1888 „ 64 ... „ 4 July, 1889 ... „ 225 ... „ 13 Sept., 1889 ... „ 75 ... i „ 4 July, 1890 ... Printed. D.-7. „ 219 ... „ 13 Sept., 1890 ... Not printed. „ 39 ... : „ 12 June, 1891 ... „ 262 ... „ 23 Sept., 1891 ... „ 50 ... „ 28 June, 1892 ... Printed, D.-9. „ 270 ... „ 8 Oct., 1892 ... „ D,~9a. Aggregate rental from 909 current leases of railway property at 31st March, 1893, £10 860.