PAPERS RELATING TO THE

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I may add, that I have informed Mr. Ottywell that I considered 2| per cent, and expenses, which Mr. Hemans proposed to charge the Canterbury Government, was much too heavy, and that Mr. Hemans has consented to accept 2 per cent, inclusive of all expenses. It is possible I may be able to induce him to make a further reduction ; but in the meanwhile I have no doubt the Government will be gratified at the reduction to which he has already consented. I have, &c, The Hon. Minister for Public Works, New Zealand. Julius Vogel.

lII.—ASHLEY RIVER. No. 65. Mr. Blackett to Mr. Beat. Sir,— Public Works Office, Christchurch, 9th March, 1871. I have the honor to request that, in order to make my report on the crossing of the Ashley River clear and intelligible, you will cause to be made correct sectional and plan surveys of the two lines of railway crossing the Ashley at the points marked by me on the ground; and that you will furnish me with a copy or tracing of the plans, with an approximate estimate of the cost of the two lines, including all bridges, culverts, &c. The Ashley to be bridged with spans of not less than forty feet each, and the Saltwater Creek with spans of not less than twenty feet each, all with iron girders, the former with iron piers, the latter with wooden piers. The survey to extend from the end of the present survey at Rangiora to where the lines w Till enter the Railway Reserve beyond Sefton. Due provision to be made in height of bridges and embankments for the highest floods, as already verbally explained. These surveys might be intrusted to the same individual as selected for the survey of the Northern Line to Waipara. I have, &c, John Blackett, W. B. Bray, Esq., C.E., District Engineer, Acting Engineer-in-Chief. Christchurch.

No. 66. Mr. Blackett to the Hon. TV. Gisboene. Sib,— Public Works Office, "Wellington, 4th July, 1871. I have the honor to forward for your information a report relative to the crossing of the Ashley River, in the Province of Canterbury, by the proposed Northern Line of Railway, in accordance with your instructions founded on the arrangements between the General and Provincial Governments that the selection of the site for the bridge over that river should be reported on by the Colonial Engineer. Provided with a plan of the district showing the levels of the various points, and assisted by the District Engineer, I proceeded to make a close inspection of the river banks on both sides, and of the land adjoining, as far as necessary. This inspection occupied nearly six days, during which occurred one of the heaviest floods on record, excepting that of 18G8, which appears to have been quite exceptional in its height and in its effect on the surrounding country. I was, before entering on this examination, made aware that a very strong feeling existed as to the probable decision of the important point in question, and therefore, to avoid any prejudgment of the question, carefully abstained from reading any former report on the subject, or from asking any question which might lead to a knowledge of any previous conclusion which might have been arrived at, either generally or professionally, on the subject. In this way I entered on the inquiry perfectly unbiassed, and directed my attention solely to the strict facts of the case. The occurrence of the flood before mentioned tended materially to assist my observations as to the actual conditions under which any bridge and railway should be constructed, and, by creating an immediate interest at the time, was the means of my gaining much valuable information from the various settlers in the vicinity of the river. My inquiries extended from the present Ashley Bridge upwards to Ashley Bank or township, a distance of about four and a half miles. The south bank of the river offers few difficulties for consideration ; but the northern bank, in the whole of that distance, presents but two sites on which a bridge could be erected, and approached by a railway, with any degree of safety. A short description of the north river bank will show how this conclusion has been arrived at. With the exception of a few chains at the upper end of the township, where the first of the sites is situated, the river bank for about a mile and a half downwards is very low, and presents in ordinary floods a succession of overflows to the north; and over this space, in the flood of 1868, the water swept in great volume, carrying an enormous amount of drift and trees of all sizes up to 5 feet through, which were after the flood found packed and wedged together in a solid mass on the low lying land. Below this the bauks are a little higher, but still subject to the influence of floods —say for half a mile further ; then commences a terrace gradually rising in level and receding from the river, extending say for a mile downwards, with low flax land lying between it and the river. This terrace at one point appears to offer a likely place for bridging the river, but the span here would be very