The Hon. Mr. Hall.—I have the honour to bring up the following report of the Managers of the second Free Conference on the Railways Construction Bill:—

The Managers, being unable to agree upon the question whether clause 3 of the Bill is or is not an appropriation clause, recommend that the amendments made in the said clause be omitted; and that the Ministry should advise His Excellency the Governor to avail himself of the powers conferred by the 5Gth section of the Constitution Act by transmitting the following amendments for the consideration of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, instead of those that the Legislative Council proposed:—

"Provided always that no contract shall be entered into for the construction of any railway or any portion thereof unless—

"(1.)	In the case of each line to be constructed plans and estimates shall he laid before the Governor in Council, with a certificate from the Chief Engineer that the route chosen for the railway is the best available one.
"(2.)	Such plans and estimates be approved by the Governor in Council.

"And it is hereby declared that, within thirty days after the commencement of the then next session of Parliament, such plans and estimates shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament, together with a copy of any contract which may have been entered into with respect to the railway to which such plans and estimates refer."