F.—B

1895. NEW ZEALAND.

TELEGRAPH CABLES (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO). [In continuation of F-5b., 1894, presented on 20th October, 1894.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

NEW ZEALAND-AUSTBALIAN CABLE. No. 1 The Hon. the Pbemiee, Melbourne, to the Hon. the Pbemiee, Wellington. Sic, — Premier's Department, Melbourne, 2nd August, 1894. I have the honour to forward herewith, to be retained by your Government, a signed and sealed copy of the agreement between the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia,- Western Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand in connection with the reduction of rates on the New Zealand cable. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. J. B. Patteeson, Premier.

Enclosure in No. 1. Ageeement between the Goveenments op New South Wales, Victobia, South Austbalia, Westeen Austealia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, pboviding fob contbibuting to any Deficiency that may aeise in connection with Eeduction of Rates undeb Ageeement of the 13th Decbmbee, 1892, with the Basteen Extension Austealasia and China Telegeaph Company (Limited). An Agbeement, made this tenth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-four, between His Excellency the Eight Honourable Sir Eobeet William Duff, a Member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, &c, &c, &c, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of New South Wales and. its Dependencies, by the advice of the Executive Council thereof, for and on behalf of Her Majesty's Local Government of New South Wales, of the first part, the Eight Honourable John Adeian Louis, Eabl of Hopetoun, &c, &c, &c, Governor and Com-mander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of Victoria and its Dependencies, by the advice of the Executive Council thereof, for and on behalf of Her Majesty's Local Government of Victoria, of the second part; His Excellency the Honourable Samuel James Way, Her Majesty's LieutenantGovernor of the Province of South Australia and its Dependencies, by the advice of the Executive Council thereof, for and on behalf of Her Majesty's Local Government of South Australia, of the third part, His Excellency Sir William Cleaveb Fbancis Robinson, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of Western Australia and its Dependencies, by the advice of the Executive Council thereof, for and on behalf of Her Majesty's Local Government of Western Australia, of the fourth part; His Excellency the Right Honourable Jenico William Joseph, Viscount Gobmanston, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of Tasmania and its Dependencies, by the advice of the Executive Council thereof, for and on behalf of Her Majesty's Local Government of Tasmania, of the fifth part, and His Excellency the Eight Honourable David, Eael of Glasgow, &c, &c, &c, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, for and on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, of the sixth part. Whereas certain telegraph-cables connecting New Zealand with New South Wales are owned by the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited) (hereinafter referred to as " the Company") And whereas, by an agreement made the thirteenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-two, between the Government of New Zealand of the one part, and the Company of the other part, provision was made for reducing the rates theretofore charged by the Company for the transmission of I—F. 8.