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No. 18. Dr. Featheeston to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 13th May, 1873. I have the honor to transmit herewith invoices and bills of lading, as per schedule annexed, of railway fastenings and tools ordered under Public Works Memorandum No. 53, of the 25th November, 1871. The railway joints for Southland are insured to that port; but as the ship " St. Kilda," by which they are forwarded, only gives delivery at Otago, they will have to be transhipped to the former place by the Government. I have, Ac, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 19. Dr. Featheeston to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 15th May, 1873. I have the honor to transmit herewith invoices and bill of lading for railway material shipped by the "Millwall," Aal, 1,165 tons register, chartered by me for the conveyance of material to Canterbury, New Zealand, ordered under Public Works Memorandum No. 11, of the 20th January, 1872, No. 24, of the 23rd January, 1872, and No. 78-72, of the 9th June, 1872. The annexed schedule will show the quantities forwarded under each order, and the amount for which the whole is insured. The insurance is effected at £3 per cent. The second moiety of the freight is payable in the Colony, on true and complete delivery at Lyttelton. The " Millwall" sailed from Sunderland on the 12th instant. I have, Ac, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 20 Dr. Featheeston to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 12th May, 1873. I have the honor to state that tenders for the balance of the 301b rails for Canterbury Eailways, indented for under Public Works Memorandum No. 78-72, 9th June, 1872, were invited for the 22nd ultimo. The only firm which tendered was Messrs. Hopper, Eadcliffe, and Co., whose tender I have accepted; the price is £14 ss. per ton. A copy of the specification and tender, with the consulting engineer's letter, is enclosed. I have, Ac, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 21. Dr. Featheeston to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sra,— 16th May, 1873. I have the honor to report that I have arranged for the conveyance of the Thames water trough, 1,100 tons, to Auckland, at a freight of 255. per ton. The first delivery made by the contractors, 250 tons, is being shipped by the " City of Auckland," to sail on the 30th instant. The next delivery, 300 tons, will be shipped by the " St. Leonards," to sail in June, and the balance is to be taken in July. A proportionate quantity of angle irons and fastenings will accompany each shipment. I have, Ac, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Agent-General. By Authority: Gjeobgb Didsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB73. [Price 9d.J