Auckland Provincial Government Gazette.

99

directed by his Honour the Superintendent to state that the Colonial Secretary definitely objected to expending any of the money allowed by the General Government either on the Waiotahi or Moanataiari roads, the necessities of which were directly brought under his particular notice.

I have, &c.,

READER WOOD,
Provincial Secretary.

The Chairman of the Waiotahi District Board,
Grahamstown.

(22.)
Wellington, 12th February, 1876.

His Honor the Superintendent,
Auckland.

No. 60. I have received the following letter from Messrs. McKirdy and Oakes, contractors on the Wellington to Masterton Railway, offering work to the unemployed miners at the Thames:—

"Wellington, February, 1876.

"The Hon. Colonial Secretary,

"Sir,—We regretted to learn through the public press that his Honor the Superintendent had replied to a number of working men at the Thames, "that he was unable to find work in this part of the Colony, and being aware that the persons in question have applied to the Government of New South Wales to find them employment, we consider that it would be a great loss if they were to leave New Zealand. We are therefore willing to provide four hundred with at least twelve months’ work, at from seven shillings to eight shillings per diem. The only question which arises being the cost of passage to Wellington. As a large stream of immigration has been coming into this Colony for some time past, we believe it would have a very injurious effect if the New South Wales Government accepted the offer of these men. We therefore submit for the consideration of the Government whether they could not be provided with passages to Wellington, especially as it has been a matter of policy on the part of the Immigration Department to send immigrants from one part of the Colony to another at the Government expense. If this cannot be done, we submit that an arrangement might be made through the Engineers of the Public Works Department in charge of the works to receive small monthly payments from each man on account of his passage. When we tendered for our present contracts we were led to believe that there would be ample labour awaiting, instead of which we find that within the past twelve months very few British immigrants have been introduced to this port. The majority being foreigners, numbers of whom we have employed at a loss to ourselves, so anxious were we to complete our contracts. As the labour question has become a serious one with us, if we are to finish our contracts within the time allowed by the Public Works Department, we earnestly hope that these men will not be allowed to leave this Colony in the face of our representations.—We are, &c., CHARLES McKIRDY, W. F. OAKES."

DANIEL POLLEN.

(23.)
Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, 14th February, 1876.

Sir,—
With reference to the question of providing work for the unemployed at the Thames, I have the honour to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a telegram received from the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, communicating an offer from Messrs. McKirdy and Oakes, Wellington, Contractors, to give employment to 400 men on the railway works at Wellington for a period of twelve months.

I have, &c.,

READER WOOD,
Provincial Secretary.

His Worship the Mayor,
Thames.

(24.)
Auckland, 14th February, 1876.

To Honourable Colonial Secretary,
Wellington.

Re proposal of Messrs. McKirdy and Oakes, I have communicated your telegram to the Mayor at the Thames.

READER WOOD,
For the Superintendent.

(25.)
Grahamstown, 15th February, 1876.

Reader Wood, Esq.,
Provincial Secretary, Auckland.

The £1,000 authorised for expenditure on road works for unemployed will be expended on Thursday first. Unless otherwise instructed by you in the meantime, I must discharge all the men now employed on these works.

JAMES M. MCLAREN,
District Engineer.

(26.)
Auckland, 15th February, 1876.

To the Honourable
Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

Copy of telegram from Inspector of Works at Thames, sent for your information:—“The £1,000 authorised for expenditure on road works for unemployed will be expended on Thursday first. Unless otherwise instructed by you in the meantime, I must discharge all the men now employed on these works.—J. M. McLAREN.” Will Colonial Government authorise a further expenditure on this account and forward the money?

READER WOOD,
For the Superintendent.

(27.)
Mackaytown, 14th February, 1876.

Sir,—
The undersigned Committee appointed at a public meeting held at Mackaytown on the 12th instant, have the honor to forward to you herewith copy of a memorial agreed to at said meeting, addressed to the Hon. Daniel Pollen, and respectfully to request that your Honor will use every influence in your power in favour of carrying out the prayer of the memorialists.

We have, &c.,

ADAM PORTER,
GEO. WOODWARD,
JAMES MUNRO.

His Honor Sir George Grey, K.C.B., M.H.R.,
Superintendent of the Province of Auckland,
Auckland.

ENCLOSURE.

To the Hon. Daniel Pollen, M.L.C.,
Premier of New Zealand,
etc., etc., etc.

The Memorial of the undersigned workmen, at present employed on the Mackaytown and Waitekauri road, and others resident in the Ohinemuri District,

Respectfully sheweth,

That a large number of your Memorialists are...