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No. 5. Mr. E. Carrow to the Commissioner of Eailways, Dunedin. (Telegram.) Christchurch, 25th June, 1880. About 7 tons corrugated iron ordered from Guthrie and Larnach for erection of shops at Addington. Contractors demur to supply because material is for construction. They are clearly liable. Please authorize me to cancel order, and purchase at their expense at once. Order was given weeks ago. E. Carrow, Stores Manager.

No. 6. Mr. Allison D. Smith to the Stores Manager, Christchurch. (Urgent.) Locomotive Department, Christchurch, 26th June, 1880. A week ago 6,000 English fire-bricks were ordered for Addington. They are urgently required. Will you kindly instruct Storekeeper to send them at once ? Allison D. Smith, Locomotive Engineer. The Storekeeper, Christchurch. —Please get contractor to deliver above. —E. Carrow. —26/6/80.

No. 7. Mr. W. V. Stevens to the Stores Manager, Middle Island. I wrote to contractor re non-delivery of fire-bricks on Friday last. I understand he is waiting till it is decided about Guthrie and Larnach having to supply the galvanized iron for the same job —they having, it appears, stated to Nashelski that they are not going to supply, as the work is for construction. I think it would be as well if you would please obtain authority for the purchase elsewhere at contractors' risk, if they still refuse to supply. Walter V. Stevens, 28th June, 1880. Storekeeper.

No. 8. Mr. E. Carrow to the Commissioner of Eailways, Dunedin. The Commissioner of Eailways, Dunedin. Corrugated iron, about which I wired on 25th: If contractors are not compelled to supply, there will be trouble about stores ordered for Addington shops from other contractors. E. Carrow, Christchurch, 28th June, 1880. Stores Manager.

No. 9. Mr. Conters to Mr. E. Carrow. (Telegram.) 28th June, 1880. Re galvanized iron. As our contracts are for the supply of working railway, and the contractors probably base their calculations upon that understanding, I do not see how we can fairly call upon them to supply the construction department also. If they are willing, I have no objection. Wm. Conters.

No. 10. Memorandum for the .Commissioner of Eailways, Dunedin. In re Supply of "Stores required for New Works. In reference to Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach declining to supply a quantity of corrugated iron lately ordered for Addington workshops on the ground that they were not bound by contract to do so, and that the supplying of articles required for construction was not contemplated when they tendered, I have the honor to state that stores required for new works have up till now been held to come within the contracts for railway stores. Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach's agent was allowed access to the Christchurch stores ledgers, to enable him to form some idea of the quantities of the various articles likely to be required, before sending in their tender at the end of 1878; and, as those accounts embraced a great deal of material bought from contractors and used on construction work done by the railway engineers, it seems to me that the contractors' excuse for not supplying will not stand good. I shall not, I hope, be thought officious in again bringing this matter under your notice; but I should be wanting in my duty to you if I did not draw your attention to all points of this question. If Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach are allowed to get off delivering this iron, they will, no doubt, on the same ground, decline to order the iron piping required for Oran water-service, unless they find (which Ido not think likely) they can import it at a profit; and Mr. Nashelski will refuse to deliver a lot of fire-bricks ordered for the new shops, and very probably seek compensation for those which he has already supplied at a loss of about £6 per 1,000. E. Carrow, Stores Manager's Office, Christchurch, 29th June, 1880. Stores Manager.

,'SSfores Manager. —The contractors may be called upon to supply stores for construction works carried .out by this department under authorities issued to this office.—C. Adeian Baeham (for Commissioner .of Railways).—3 /7 / 80.