27 March 1872

On Tuesday, March 12 I received a Copy of the “General Conditions” for the construction of the Railways, - and during the remainder of the week had frequent interviews with Ministers, who then left one by one without completing any arrangements. Finding that nothing could be done without them, and moreover, being liable to be called upon for tenders for Work within a month, I determined to see and go over the Lines of Rail proposed, and accordingly took the first Steamer, the “Alhambra”, from the West Coast, with Mr Henderson, on the 27^th.