F.—B

1901. NEW ZEALAND.

TELEGRAPH CABLES (FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO). [In continuation of Paper F.-8, presented on the 21st August, 1900.]

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

INDEX. New Zealand-Sydney Cable— Paga. Proposal for Government-owned .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Pacific Cable— Tenders. ' c The Pacific Cable Act, 1900 " : New Zealand's Proportion of Cost. Signing Contract. AgentGeneral to act generally. Copy of Contraot. Survey. Landing-place in New Zealand. Appointment of Board of Management. Chairmanship of Board. Cable Staff. London Staff. Office Sites and Buildings .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..2 Cape-Austbalia Cable— New South Wales signing Eastern Extension Company's Agreement to secure Reduced Rates. Victoria proposing to sign—later standing out. Terms on which New Zealand would be granted Reduced Rates. Progress of Work of laying Cables. Competition of Companies after Lines complete. Canada and Queensland objecting to action of New South Wales. Conference to discuss that Aotion .. 80

NEW ZEALAND-SYDNEY CABLE.

No. 1. The Hon. Audley Coote, Sydney, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Dear Sir,—- Waverley Park, Sydney, 12th March, 1901. I have the honour to confirm my previous letters on the subject of an independent and Government-owned cable to connect New Zealand with Australia. The newspapers inform us that you are most desirous of having an independent cable, and that the Eastern Extension Cable Company have been approached as to their selling their old cables to the Government. As the Act of Parliament for the first New Zealand cable was in my name and the cable was laid in opposition to my then registered Cable Company, I desire to bring under your notice that it is now twenty-seven years ago, and that the life of a cable is not much over twenty-one years, and, as a fact, the Cable Company's repairing-ship " Becorder " has only returned this morning from cutting and splicing both cables. Consequently it will be seen that cables so old might give the Government much trouble. I enclose copy of a letter on the subject of the route of the main Pacific cable that appeared in last Saturday's newspaper here, and, as it has a reference to the first New Zealand cable negotiations and the cable contract, I send you a copy, thinking it would interest you at this time. Should your Government desire to have an independent cable, please let me again suggest to land it in Queensland. Then I feel sure that the Queensland Government would bear a share in its cost —perhaps one-half —as all messages would pass over their land-lines and so recoup them for the money expended. If you. thought well of Queensland joining in the expense, I feel sure I could arrange it satisfactorily. I am also prepared to make your Government a firm offer to make and lay a Governmentowned cable, or to tender in the usual way if opportunity is given to German cable-manufacturers as well as English. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Audley Coote,

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