9

E.—4b

The same legislation which is required to enable either Government to arrange terms with the Company for working would be required by the Company to enable them to carry on their operations, and lam therefore at a loss to understand what your Honor alludes to as an official obstruction. The General Government are, and have always been, willing to do anything in their power to encourage private enterprise, but such enterprise must be under the sanction of the law. The Superintendent, Otago. Edward Eichaedson.

No. 31. His Honor the Supeeintendent, Otago, to the Hon. the Minister for Public Woeks. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 12th February, 1875. Telegeam received. Have no desire to prolong discussion, which would not have occurred had Commissioner of Customs not definitely pledged himself, as I am informed, to procure loan of rails, which he stated were not otherwise required for twelve months. Subsequently Cabinet declined to implement this pledge, but agreed to sell rails on Company undertaking to fulfil certain conditions, which undertaking was at once fully and unreservedly given. Since this was done additional objections have been started; hence my use of the expression you take exception to. I should not have troubled you in this matter at all had not the Government referred it to me in the first instance. As it is, I have been placed in somewhat awkward position, as but for the assurance conveyed through me that rails would be sold on conditions referred to, Company allege they could have procured them from Tasmania a month earlier than they can now do. I rather think the Company's solicitor advises them to come under provisions Tramways Act, seeing that all local authorities herein referred to are strongly in favour of undertaking. Eequisite to enable population of Dunedin to travel by rail to Ocean Beach and Peninsula, according to law, will be your sanction under section 9 of said Act. The Hon. E. Eichardson, Wellington. J. Macandeew.

No. 32. The Hon. the Commissioneb of Customs to His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. (Telegram.) '^Wellington, 15th February, 1875. Me. Bichaedsoit has shown me your telegram of Friday, wherein you state : " Had Commissioner of Customs not definitely pledged himself, as lam informed, to procure loan of rails, Ac." Now I distinctly say I gave no such pledge. Messrs. Proudfoot and Bradshaw handed me a letter, as I got on the Dunedin Eailway platform on my way hither. I hastily glanced at it, and after a word or two with them, used words to the effect that, as Messrs. Blair and Conyers had told them the rails could be spared, I personally did not see any difficulty in complying, and that on my arrival here I would lay their applications before the Government. After going fully into the case since my arrival here, I thoroughly indorse the action that has been taken by Government in the public interest. His Honor the Superintendent, Dunedin. Wm. H. Eeynolds.

No. 33. The Secbetabt, Ocean Beach Eailway Company, to the Hon. the Ministee for Public Woees. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 15th February, 1875. Is Company to abandon all hopes of getting rails as promised in Colonial Secretary's letter to Superintendent, 28th January, after fulfilling all conditions in that letter ? The Hon. E. Eichardson, Wellington. J. B. Bradshaw.

No. 34 The Hon. the Minister for Public Woeks to the Seceetaey, Ocean Beach Eailway Company. (Telegram.) Wellington, 16th February, 1875. In reply to your telegram of to-day, I have to state that the Government do not in any way depart from their decision, as expressed in my telegram to His Honor of the 6th instant, to sell the three miles of rails; but, as I then stated, the Government are advised that the Company must have an Act of the Legislature to enable them to proceed with their undertaking, and the Government must have full details as to the proposals of the Company, and the Bill which it is proposed to introduce, before giving any further expression of opinion on the subject. I can only repeat that any assistance which the Government can render they are prepared to give to the Company, so long as the existing laws are complied with. J. B. Bradshaw, M.H.E., Dunedin. Edward Eichaedsos-.

No. 85. The Seceetaey, Ocean Beach Eailway Company, to the Hon. the Minister for Pttblic Woeks. (Private.) Temple Chambers, Dunedin, 17th February, 1875. Mt deab Kichardson, —In reply to your telegram of yesterday's date, in re rails, I beg to say that the Dunedin, Peninsula, and Ocean Beach Eailway Company began their undertaking believing that it had sufficient legal authority, and the matter was concurred "in by the Provincial authorities. 2—E. 4b.