D,—No. a.

AUCKLAND. No. 1. Hon. Mr. Gisborne to His Honor T. B. Gillies, Auckland. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 19th November, 1870. I have to inform your Honor that in a few days Mr. J. Blackett, C. 8., engineer in the Public Works Department, will proceed to Auckland, with a view to the completion of the survey of a railway line from Auckland to Tuakau, with branch to Onehunga, commencing from and terminating at a point to be <letermined by the Governor in Council, as authorised to be constructed by the " Railways Act, 1870." Mr. Blackett will wait on your Honor, and I shall feel obliged by your directing him to be furnished with such information and assistance, as it may bo in the power of the Provincial Government to afford in the performance of this service. Your Honor will perceive from the 26th section of the " Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870," that tho Governor may, on the request of the Superintendent and Provincial Council of a Province, cause works to be constructed for the supply of water to a gold field. I understand, though unofficially, that such a request has been made, or is about to be made, by your Honor and the Auckland Provincial Council, in respect of the gold fields at the Thames ; and in that case, Mr. Blackett is instructed, after consultation with your Honor, to cause the necessary steps to be taken forthwith for the requisite survey, and other measures, for the purpose of ascertaining what water works ought to be ■construeced, and the mode of their construction. I have, Ac, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. AY. Gisborne.

No. 2. His Honor T. B. Gillies to Hon. Ministee of Public AVorks. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 14th November, 1870. I have the honor to enclose a request by myself and the Provincial Council, to His Excellency, to cause works for a water supply for the Thames Gold Fields, to bs constructed in terms of section 26 of the " Immigration and Public Works Act," and trust that the Government will be able at as early a period as possible to give effect to our request. I have, Ac, The Hon. Minister for Public Works, Thomas B. Gillies, Wellington. Superintendent.

Enclosure 1 in No. 2. His Honor T. B. Gillies to His Excellency the Governor. Sir, Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 14th November, 1870. I have the honor, in pursuance of section 26 of the "Immigration and Public Works Act" of last session of the Assembly, to request that your Excellency will cause to be constructed such works for supplying water to the Thames Gold Fields as you may think fit, and I enclose resolutions of the Provincial Council to the same effect. I have, &c, His Excellency the Governor, Thomas B. Gillies, Government House, Auckland. Superintendent. Sub-Enclosure in Enclosure 1 in No. 2. Address No. 11, Session xxvi. [Extract from the Journals of the Auckland Provincial Council, Friday, 4th November, 1870.] Resolved —That this Council concurs with His Honor the Superintendent in the opinion that it is •desirable immediately to undertake the necessary works for procuring a sufficient supply of water for the Thames Gold Field, and respectfully requests him to intimate this resolution to His Excellency the Governor. Resolved —That a respectful address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, forwarding the foregoing resolution. (True extract.) G. Maueice O'Rorke, His Honor the Superintendent. Speaker.

PAPERS RELATING TO THE SUPPLY OF WATER ON THE GOLD FIELDS.