F.—B

31

No. 39. The Offtceb in Chaege, Telegraph Office, Wakapuaka, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Wakapuaka, 18th December, 1900. Bebne advises that the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Company notify that the tariff will be reduced from the Ist January next for telegrams between all countries in Europe or in transit by Europe and South Australia, West Australia, and Tasmania. The rates for ordinary and Press telegrams for the other colonies and New Caledonia will remain as they are.

No. 40. The Hon. the Postmasteb - Geneeal, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmastee - General, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 28th December, 1900. Can you inform me of the intention of New South Wales and Victoria re Eastern Extension Telegraph Company's cable proposals ? Do they intend to come in, and, if so, on what conditions ? [A telegram of the same text and date was sent to the Hon. the Postmaster-Geneeal, Sydney.] ________________

No. 41. The Hon. the Postmaster - General, Sydney, to the Hon. the Postmaster - Geneeal, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 29th December, 1900. At an interview between Victorian Postmaster-General and myself it was arranged to do nothing in matter of Eastern Extension Company's proposals until Pacific cable contract signed.

No. 42. The Hon. the Postmaster - Geneeal, Melbourne, to the Hon. the Postmasteb - Geneeal, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 31st December, 1900. At a recent interview Postmaster-General, New South Wales, and myself it was arranged to do nothing in matter of Eastern Extension Company's proposals until Pacific cable contract signed.

No. 43. The Hon. the Postmasteb - Geneeal, Wellington, to the Manages in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 10th January, 1901. Does your company propose to extend the reduced international cable rates to New Zealand ?

No. 44. The Manages in Austealasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 10th January, 1901. If you are prepared to accept the Adelaide agreement, I will wire the alterations to be inserted in a supplemental agreement to admit New Zealand ; otherwise present international New Zealand rates will remain in force. On the other hand, if Adelaide agreement accepted, the tariff will be reduced to 3s. 6d., plus New Zealand cable and New Zealand terminal rates. Prompt decision necessary if reduced tariff to come into operation on Ist February, as supplemental agreement with New South Wales and Victoria now about to be signed.

No. 45. The Hons. the Postmastees-Genebal, Sydney and Melbourne, to the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 11th January, 1901. We have received following telegram from Warren : " If you and the Honourable the PostmasterGeneral of Victoria are prepared to accept the Adelaide agreement [No. 176, F.-8, 1900], and the Agents-General for the two States are promptly instructed to sign the supplemental agreement, the two States can have the reduced rates as per schedule B from Ist February next [see page b9, F.-8, 1900] —namely, three and six (3s. 6d.) ordinary, two and six (2s. 6d.) Government, and one and four (Is. 4d.) Press. The following alterations and amendments will be inserted in the said supplemental agreement: In third recital, Adelaide agreement referred to, Article 5, Table B, dispensed with; Article 14 entirely omitted, as company will provide their own offices at Sydney and Melbourne ; Articles 15 and 16 remodelled to suit altered circumstances; Table A struck out of schedule. Other alterations are only dates and names, to admit New South Wales and Victoria." We have sent following reply: "We are prepared to accept Adelaide agreement with such alterations as are necessary by reason of New Soutn Wales and Victoria coming in at the present