CONSTRUCTION OE RAILWAYS.

19

D.—No. 6.

Enclosure 2 in No. 23. Mr. Knowles to Mr. Dyee. Sib,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 17th April, 1871. I am directed by the Hon. Mr. Gisborne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th February, containing proposals for constructing railways on a principle perfected by Mr. Fell, the Engineer of the Mont Cenis Line; and, while thanking you for the information which your letter contains, I am, in reply, to inform you that the Government of New Zealand are not in a position to accept the proposals referred to. I have, &c, Joseph Dyer, Esq., Acting Secretary, John Knowles, Hall of Commerce, Melbourne. Under Secretary.

IV.—BY MESSRS. ROBINSON AND JANSEN, ENGLAND. No. 24. The Hon. W. Gisboene to the Hon. Dr. Featheeston. Sie, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 9th May, 1871. Enclosed is a copy of a letter from Messrs. Robinson and Jansen, of Darlington, in reference to the system of narrow-gauge railway to which I referred in my letter of the 17th ultimo, and of the reply which has been returned by the Hon. the Minister of Public Works, from which you will learn that those gentlemen have been instructed to put themselves in communication with you. I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, Esq., M.D., Agent-General. W. Gisboene.

Enclosure 1 in No. 24. Messrs. Robinson and Jansen to the Hon. W. Gisboene. Sie, — Darlington, 23rd February, 1871. We take the liberty of forwarding you per this mail a pamphlet descriptive of a new system of railway brought out by Mr. Fell, of Mont Cenis celebrity, and for which we have secured the agency for Australia and New Zealand. We have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Robinson and Jansen. New Zealand.

Enclosure 2 in No. 24. Mr. Knowles to Messrs. Robinson and Jansen. Gentlemen, — Public Works Office, Wellington, 15th May, 1871. I do myself the honor, by direction of the Minister for Public Works, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd February last, enclosing a pamphlet descriptive of a narrow-gauge railway system invented by Mr. Fell, of Mont Cenis celebrity, and am, in reply, to inform you that although the Government have no present intention of applying that system, yet they will be obliged if you will put yourself in communicatiou with Dr. Featherston, the Agent-General of the Colony, in London. His temporary address is at 3, Adelaide Place, King William Street, E.C. I am also to state that a company has been formed in Melbourne for working this system, and that overtures had previously been made to the Government in respect to it. I have, &c, John Knowles, Messrs. Robinson and Jansen, Darlington. Under Secretary.