a vessel and the wretched little vessels I was lately in has to be felt to be enjoyed. Of course I found Vogel here and we have been talking things over together since. He leaves most likely by the Nebraska due today. Webb has been ill but is better again and will go on also by the Nebraska to Sydney. He seems an intelligent man and is anxious to get on with his work. Vogel's brief stay has not enabled him to do very much but we have agreed as to the different matters and I can carry them out. There is a good deal to do but I think I see my way to get most of it done and get South within a month. As I cannot get time to write to both Gisborne and yourself I will send this under cover to him to be read and forwarded if you are gone South. Carruthers is getting on with the Auckland Railway and will have the section between the City and Onehunga ready by say ten days from now. He finds the estimates of the Resident Engineer (Wrigg I think his name is) very unreliable and so I expect are the Estimates of most of our local Engineers - the line to be adopted is likely to be the original line with some alterations and this will meet the views of the majority of the Auckland people as well as utilise the work already