and because we have now all the necessary alliances for the work. There are strong arguments in favor of making an effort to carry out such a scheme as I have sketched, for independently of the advantage of taking another step into the interior with such a settlement, the road line proposed would open a large area of land fit for settlement and sale and the road line would be one which I have long held - and I believe Mr. Carruthers thinks - will be the best main line to the interior and ultimately to Auckland. I am anxious to obtain every information and shall try if possible to get some definite suggestion for the consideration of Mr. Broomhall and Mr. Fox when they are here together. Mr. Fox I expect to arrive by the first mail steamer. My own opinion at present is, that the block is one which if brought within 30 miles of the railway by a good metalled road would be a desirable one for Mr. Broomhall's purposes. But I would on no account recommend his having anything to