Wellington, 1st May, 1849.

Sir,

Tour most obedient servant,

A. Hamilton Russell,
Captain 58th Regt.,
Superintendent of Military Roads.

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary,
Wellington.

Wellington, 1st May, 1849.

Sir,

Enclosed I transmit the progress made on the Hutt and Wairarapa road during the quarter ending 31st March. I have the honour to forward, along with the usual returns and reports of the Superintendents, a plan of the whole road from Wellington to the plains of Wairarapa, showing the state of the works up to 31st March. The amount of work done between 1st January and 31st March has been very considerable, especially in the Pakuratahi district, as is detailed in Mr. Swainson’s report, a large body of the Ngatiruanui natives having worked under him during this period, who were not all paid until the second week in April. The proposition of working in this way originated at his Excellency’s aware, with the natives themselves, a number of them agreeing to obtain funds necessary for their own use, and to put amongst themselves “to a work for three months without receiving pay till the end of the term, and devote all the money they should earn over and above their rations to the support of their own hapus.” This proposition being agreed to by the Government, they actually saved £277:2s.2d, with which they are now going on with their mill, whilst their example was followed by many others, especially the late followers of Rangihaeata, who eagerly sought employment during the time spent on the road terms. By taking advantage of the dry weather, and employing a large party in the manner much work has been executed, and but little money has to be devoted to rendering the road passable for carts a distance of a mile and a quarter beyond the Pakuratahi river. This, after the winter is over, might easily be done by the end of October next; and the five ensuing months devoted to making the road over the Tararua range, between the Pakuratahi valley and the plains. The total amount expended on this line of road during the quarter is £3220:9s.10 1/2d, which includes all the payments made in April for wages and contingencies down to 5th March. The character of the natives is good, and steady workmen under proper management, is now thoroughly proved; their willingness to undertake work on reasonable terms, and their capability of understanding the pecuniary advantage to be gained by perseverance, is now most unmistakeably certain, with these should work.

The repairs of the Porirua road have been carried on successfully, although not to the same extent as that on the Hutt road. The work has been regularly completed. This I had calculated on doing, and the integrity with which I am authorised £6000, which sum, 21st April, had not exceeded the work stopped amounted to £135.8s. The total amount expended upon that line since the 1st of July is £173.11s.4d. There is still a considerable portion of the sum to be expended, and the season approaches when it will have the effect of stopping every description of traffic between Wellington and Porirua during the winter season. The amount expended for the quarter ending 31st March, was £256:2s.6d, for which sum nearly 2 miles of road have been repaired; three-quarters of a mile of which has been entirely remade.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
T. H. Fitzgerald.

The Honourable Colonial Secretary,
Wellington.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 20th June, 1849.

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR directs me to acknowledge, with reference to the order published in the Government Gazette of the 5th instant, in connection with the proposals for the year ending 30th June, 1850, that the necessary changes in the several Departments are to take effect from the 1st July next, instead of the 14th of June, as intimated by the order above referred to.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Alfred Domett,
Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 20th June, 1849.

TENDERS will be received at this Office, for conveyance of Four Convicts and Guard to Van Diemen’s Land.

Tenders to be in Duplicate, Sealed, and Endorsed “Tenders for Conveyance of Prisoners and Guard to Van Diemen’s Land.”

By His Excellency’s Command,

Alfred Domett,
Colonial Secretary.