D.—No. 1

50

PAPERS RELATIVE TO CONSTRUCTION OF

No. 66. Mr. Knowles to Mr. Weber. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, 14th April, 1871. Ec Mr. Ormond's letter of 6th, covering copy of your letter of the 4th. Tou are authorized to call for tenders for work referred to therein; estimated cost, £500 2s. 6d. I communicate with you direct as Mr. Ormond is absent from Napier. Please let him know of this authority. John Knowles.

No. 67. His Honor J. D. Oemond to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sir, — Napier, 4th May, 1871. I have the honor to enclose copy of a letter from Mr. Weber, reporting arrangements made with a party of Natives for clearing the bush on the part of the line at the Manawatu Gorge under his charge. I am glad to see that opening the line has shown the work to be done in the way of side cuttings will be much less than was anticipated, and tenders will be called for as early as possible for that work. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. J. D. Oemond.

Enclosure in No. 67. Mr. Weber to His Honor J. D. Oemond. Sic, — Napier, Ist May, 1871. I have the honor to report that, on my arrival at the Manawatu Gorge, I found a party of Eangitane (Peeti's people), who had just finished their contract, waiting for me, and anxious tou ndertake the clearing of the gorge line. After considerable delay they entered into a written agreement to clear the line from the entrance into the gorge to the proposed site for the bridge over the Manawatu (about 102 chains), at £2 10s. per chain, the clearing to be 1-J chains wide, which rate is considerably below the contract rates of the adjoining Eui-opean contracts, making allowance for difference of timber. The Natives took the work in one contract, but being about forty in number, they made the condition that they should be allowed to subdivide it amongst themselves, and to be paid according to their subdivision, in the same way as this has been done in former contracts in the gorge; and further, they stipulated that the Government should provide them with tools as usual. I wrote to Mr. Stewart, requesting of him the loan of the necessary tools from the Government store below the gorge, in his charge, which I have no doubt he will have granted, the Natives being responsible." I am glad to be able to add that the rock cutting will be much lighter than it originally appeared, in fact, about 60 chains will be above the ledge of rock and merely easy side cutting ; when only 20 chains of the whole distance will form really heavy work. The whole work should be done below the present contract rates for the lower portion of the gorge. As the clearing is to be completed by the sth June, the Natives having been made aware of the necessity of keeping to time, tenders for the cuttings may be called for by the end of this month. I have, Ac, His Honor J. D. Ormond, Napier. Chaeles Webee.

No. 68. Mr. Knowles to His Honor J. D. Oemond. Sir,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 10th May, 1871. I have the honor, by direction of Mr. Gisborne, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, reporting arrangements made with a party of Natives for clearing the bush on the part of the line at the Manawatu Gorge tinder Mr. Weber's charge. In reply, lam to inform your Honor that a general authority has been issued for the payment of the accounts, when due, amounting to £255, being an estimate of 102 chains at £2 10s per chain. The vouchers to be certified by Mr. Weber and approved by your Honor. I have, Ac, John Knowles, His Honor J. D. Ormond, Napier. Under Secretary.