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6. The Board may appoint such officers and employ such persons, and take such other steps as they think necessary and expedient, for properly carrying out their duties, and may provide an office for the transaction of their business. 7. The Board may regulate their proceedings in such manner as they think fit, but on any matter on which the votes of the Board are equally divided the person presiding at the Board shall have a second or casting vote, and the quorum of the Board shall be three. 8. The Board may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their number.

No. 27. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. Sir, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 29th August, 1901. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your cablegram of the 31st ultimo, as follows [No. 20], and to confirm my cablegram of the 23rd instant [No. 23]. The following are the full names of the two officers mentioned: William Stafford Furby; Charles Henry McLeod Hawk. I would suggest that, in the event of the acceptance of the nominations, the salary of Mr. Furby should be £500 a year, with a free residence, and that of Mr. Hawk £315 to £355 per annum, by two annual increments of £15 each and one of £10, with a free residence. No furniture to be provided, or allowance paid to either officer. I send herewith copy of this Department's Classification List for the current year, from which may be gathered what would be fair salaries for the rank and file. The number and pay to be determined as the business develops. The quarters will be required to be furnished for the staff, exclusive of the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, and a married couple at an annual salary will be needed to take charge of the staff quarters. No further expense, it is anticipated, should be necessary. It is assumed in the above proposals that all the expenses of the cable-station in New Zealand are to be shared equally by the Pacific Cable Board and the New Zealand Government. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, for the Premier. The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London,

No. 28. The Chairman, Pacific Cable Board, London, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. (Telegram.) London, 3rd September, 1901. Please proceed with Doubtless Bay buildings. Plans approved.

No. 29. The Secretary, Auckland Harbour Board, Auckland, to the Inspector of Telegraphs, Auckland. Sir,- — Auckland Harbour Board, Auckland, 4th September, 1901. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo [not printed], in reference to the laying of cables by your Department between Point Besolution and Devonport, asking if the Board would give you authority that such might be done; and in reply beg to inform you that your letter was read at a meeting of the Board held yesterday, when it was resolved, "That the permission requested for laying cables between Point Besolution and Devonport be granted." I have, &c, The Inspector of Telegraphs, Auckland. J. M. Brigham, Secretary.

No. 30. The Superintendent of Electric Lines, Wellington, to the Inspector of Telegraphs, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, 14th September, 1901. Please inform Mr. Harris that his offer of 14 acres of land for £10 an acre at Doubtless Bay has been accepted.

No. 31. The Superintendent of Electric Lines, Wellington, to the Inspector of Telegraphs, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, 14th September, 1901. Please inform Mr. Vickerman that the buildings for cable-station at Doubtless Bay are to be erected as soon as possible. He will hear further from his Department. 4—F. 8,