JAN. 6.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 7

Cost of Australian Squadron.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 29th December, 1886.

THE following letter, received from the Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Squadron, is published for general information.

P. A. BUCKLEY.

"Nelson," at Melbourne,
24th November, 1886.

SIR,—I beg to acquaint Your Excellency as to the cost of the Australian Squadron.

Since the return was made out, H.M.S. "Miranda," Commander Rooke, has been replaced by H.M.S. "Rapid," Captain Musgrave, a more costly vessel, with a modern armament.

I have not hitherto been able to reply to questions that have been put to me on the subject with sufficient accuracy. I have, &c.,

G. TRYON,
Rear Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.

His Excellency Lieut.-General Sir W. F. Drummond Jervois, R.E., G.C.M.G., C.B.,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief, New Zealand.

Estimated first cost to the British taxpayer of the vessels composing the Australian squadron, viz., "Nelson," "Diamond," "Opal," "Miranda," "Raven," "Swinger," "Undine," "Harrier" £840,124

Estimated annual cost of the above-named vessels, including cost of relieving crews 237,512

This is exclusive of the cost of the dépôt at Sydney, and of administration charges.

Six surveying vessels are, in addition to the above, employed on the station. The entire charges due to four of them are borne by the Admiralty; and, in the case of the other two, the cost is shared between the Admiralty and Queensland in one case, and between the Admiralty and Western Australia in the other.

Notice of Proposed Loan, Maharahara Road Board, County of Waipawa.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 30th December, 1886.

THE following notice, received from the Chairman of the Maharahara Road Board, County of Waipawa, is published in accordance with the provisions of "The Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1886."

P. A. BUCKLEY.

MAHARAHARA ROAD BOARD.—LOAN PROPOSALS.—RESULT OF POLL.

Votes for loan .. .. .. 19
Votes against loan .. .. .. 8
Votes informal. .. .. .. 2

The number of votes which can be exercised in the Maharahara Road Board District is 91.

The number of votes recorded being less than half, the proposals are rejected.

Robert Wilson,
Chairman.

Heretaunga, 24th December, 1886.

Notice of Proposed Loan, Moa Road Board, County of Taranaki.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 30th December, 1886.

THE following notice, received from the Chairman of the Moa Road Board, County of Taranaki, is published in accordance with the provisions of "The Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1886."

P. A. BUCKLEY.

MOA ROAD BOARD.

Notice of the result of the poll taken at Inglewood on Wednesday, the 22nd December, 1886, on the proposal to raise a loan of £6,000 under the provisions of "The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act 1886:"—

Total number of ratepayers, as per special roll, 380.
Ratepayers who voted for proposal .. 195
Ratepayers who voted against proposal .. 8
Ratepayers who did not vote .. 177
185
Majority of ratepayers in favour .. 10

Total number of votes on roll, 388.
Votes recorded in favour of proposal .. .. 198
Votes recorded against proposal .. .. 9
Votes not recorded .. .. 181
190
Majority of votes in favour .. 8

I therefore declare the proposal duly carried.

Harry Peters,
Chairman, Moa Road Board.

Special Order made by Pigeon Bay Road Board, County of Akaroa.—Adopting "Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1886," and "Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886."

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 30th December, 1886.

THE following special order, made by the Pigeon Bay Road Board, County of Akaroa, is published in accordance with the provisions of "The Road Boards Act, 1882."

P. A. BUCKLEY.

SPECIAL ORDER passed by the Pigeon Bay Road Board, at a Meeting held on the 4th December, 1886.

THAT this Board now adopt "The Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1886," and "The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886," generally, for the whole of the Pigeon Bay Road Board District.

I hereby certify that the above special order has been duly passed by the Pigeon Bay Road Board, in conformity with the provisions of "The Road Boards Act, 1882," and "The Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1886."

E. J. Watkins,
Clerk, Pigeon Bay Road Board.

Pigeon Bay, 24th December, 1886.

Authority to frank.

General Post Office,
Wellington, 30th December, 1886.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to authorize

The Crown Solicitors and Prosecutors
to frank letters and parcels on the public service.

Julius Vogel,
Postmaster-General.

Authority to frank.

General Post Office,
Wellington, 4th January, 1887.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to authorize

The Superintendent Collectors of Agricultural Statistics
to frank and receive letters and parcels, and frank telegrams, for a period of four months as from the 1st instant, on the business of agricultural statistics.

Julius Vogel,
Postmaster-General.

Tenders.

Public Works Office,
Wellington, 3rd January, 1887.

THE following list of successful and unsuccessful tenders is published for general information.

EDWARD RICHARDSON,
Minister for Public Works.

Government Printing Office Contract (Brick Building).

Accepted.
R. Carmichael and Sons, Christchurch .. 12,852 0 0

Declined.
Scoular and Archibald, Wellington .. .. 13,150 0 0
Barry and McDowall, Wellington .. .. 13,850 0 0
Thomas Aitken, Dunedin .. .. 14,064 0 0
James Lockie, Wellington .. .. 14,314 12 0
H. Taylor and Co., Auckland .. .. 14,441 0 0
Thomson and McLean, Wellington .. 14,857 0 0
M. Murdoch, Wellington .. .. 15,537 0 0
Josiah Love, Dunedin .. .. 17,530 9 1
John Rose (informal).

Alterations in and Additions to the Scale of Charges in force on the New Zealand Railways.

IN accordance with section 144 of "The Public Works Act, 1882," I, Edward Richardson, the Minister for Public Works, do hereby make the following alterations in and additions to the scale of charges, to come into force on and after the 10th January, 1887:—