D.—No. 61.

On the other hand, tho Gore Line has the advantage of opening up a larger extent of land fit for agriculture, and by it the distance from Kingston to Dunedin is shortened fifty-miles. The Winton Lino has been laid out to cross the Oreti River twice, but this may, perhaps, be advantageously changed by keeping altogether on the east side of the river, and not crossing it at all. The earthwork would bo thereby increased, and some rock cutting incurred in passing the spurs which come down to the river. At the same time, there would be on the Gore Line a piece of line equally difficult, where the spurs of East Peak come down to the Mataura River, and the cost of this part, together with the bridges across the AVaimea and Ota:nita Rivers, would be sufficient to meet tho extra cost of two bridges over tho Oreti, or of the extra excavations required to avoid them. The rest of the country on both lines is very favourable and offers no difficulty. I enclose a map showing both lines, on which the Winton Line is shown in read and the Goro Line in blue. I have, Ac. Tho Hon the Minister for Public Works, John Carruthers, Wellington. Colonial Chief Engineer.

No. 8. His Honor J. Macandrew to the Hon W. Gisboene. Alternative Lines, Winton to Lowther and Kingston and Gore to ditto ditto. Sir, —■ Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 22nd July, 1871. I have the honor to forward the enclosed letter that has been addressed to the Government from the " Mataura and AVakatip Railway Committee," relative to the proposed route for the railway from Invercargill to AVakatip. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, J. Macandrew, Wellington. Superintendent.

Enclosure in No. 8. Mr. G. Bailey to the Secretary of Land and Works, Dunedin. Sir, — Switzers, 30th June, 1871. I have the honor to invite the consideration of the Provincial Government to the advisability of reconsidering tho proposed route for the railway from Invercargill to AVakatip. The present survey via AVinton to Lowther ruus through a very thinly populated district, and will involve the construction of a very costly bridge over the new river near the foot of the Hokauui Ranges, and also three other bridges over important branches of the New River on the Five River Plains, all requiring to bo constructed on a loose shingle formation. A Committee has been formed for the purpose of urging upon the Government tho very superior advantages that might be expected to follow from an alteration of tho projected course of the railway, so as to connect Queenstown with the Mataura and Dunedin Line at the township of Gore (Long Ford). It is proposed that the line from AVinton to Lowther should be abandoned, and a line from Gore to Lowther constructed in lieu of it. The route would lie along the Mataura and Waimea Plains, and would pass in close proximity to the runs occupied by Messrs. AVentworth, Dundas, Montgomery, Bell, P. McKellar, Swanston, Chapman, McDonald, McNeill, Ac, Ac. It would avoid crossing all the large rivers above mentioned, there being only two insignificant streams on the proposed course, namely, tho Otamita and the AVaimea, neither of which will bear any comparison with the four that require to be crossed if tho Winfon Lino is adopted. Tho proposed route is nearly level the whole way, and no engineering diflScuities present themselves. The distance is about the same, but tho probable cost is immeasurably in favour of tho Goro to Lowther Line. This route would bring the railway less than twenty miles from Switzers, and would bo of great advantage to our mining population by connecting the gold-producing centre of Switzers and tho Lake District together. It would cheapen tho cost of living to the miners and increase our numbers. Tho population to be benefited by the proposed route is twenty times greater than that contiguous to the Winton Lino, which statement can be verified by the census returns. The residents of Switzers and its surrounding diggings will also be benefited by having flour and breadstuff's from the mills in the Queenstown District as well as general produce, which could be brought down cheaper by rail than it can now be obtained from Tokomairiro. Many other advantages suggest themselves, namely, the larger growth of wool along the proposed route ; the great benefit to the miners, by being brought within reach of railway carriage for the large quantity of mining timber, which is now mainly supplied from Cowan's Bush, at the Hokanuis, and could bo conveyed by rail nearly the whole way. I have, therefore, the honor to request that the Government will cause a survey, or, at any rate, a flying survey, to be at once made of a route from Gore, to effect a junction with the proposed WintonAVakatip Line at or near to Lowther. Trusting that tho Government will take immediate action in this matter, I have, Ac, George Bailey, Secretary Mataura and AVakatip Railway Committee. The Secretary of Land and Works, Dunedin.

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