51

F.— 8

harbour dues, which are the revenue of the Harbour Boards at the ports where those bodies are constituted, the only exemptions are those provided for in section 133 of "The Harbours Act, 1878," which would not apply to the Pacific cable steamers. Kt&Ai I beg to inform you that the Wellington and Auckland Harbour Boards are now being communicated with in respect of harbour dues, and the Wellington Board has already agreed to waive such charges. For your information I attach copy of the Solicitor-General's opinion on the matter, which is to the effect that the Pacific cable vessels are practically in the employ of the contracting Governments, if not of His Majesty. W. Gray, Secretary. The Secretary, Marine Department, Wellington.

No. 92. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. (Telegram.) London, 18th April, 1902. Befebring to telegram Secretary of State for the Colonies addressed to Governor of New Zealand, Bth April [not printed], on subject of arrangement with Eastern Telegraph Company or alternative by connection between Fanning and Honolulu, am informed that Lord Kelvin and others believe that wireless telegraphic communication could be worked between those places. Whole question should be carefully considered. No necessity for hasty decision.

No. 93. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-Genebal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 21st April, 1902. Befebring to your telegram of 18th, Eastern Telegraph Company and Fanning Island, Honolulu : No definite commitment will be made.

No. 94. The Secretary, Marine Department, Wellington, to the Superintendent of Electric Lines, Wellington. (Memorandum.) Marine Department, Wellington, 21st April, 1902. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum of the 10th instant, and, in reply, to state that a notice to mariners regarding the position of the cable at Doubtless Bay will be published in the next issue of the New Zealand Gazette ; and when a Government steamer is next at that bay the master will be instructed to erect four small beacons on the line of approach of the cable as a warning to vessels not to anchor in the neighbourhood of it. Geoege Allpobt, for Secretary. The Superintendent of Electric Lines, Wellington.

No. 95. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Seceetaey, Customs Department, Wellington. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 21st April, 1902. Customs Dues on Telegraph Material, &c, for Pacific Cable Station at Doubtless Bay. Befereing to the Electric Telegraph Commissioner's letter of the 27th ultimo to the Commissioner of Trades and Customs, asking that all telegraph material, stores, furniture, &c, imported on behalf of the Pacific Cable Board or the contracting Governments might be exempted from payment of Customs dues, and to our conversation by telephone this morning respecting the refusal of your Auckland officer to pass free imported stationery for the cable-office at Doubtless Bay, I beg to direct your attention to the fact that the Pacific cable, the station buildings, &c, at Doubtless Bay are the property of the contracting Governments, which include the Government of New Zealand. The Pacific Cable Board is really the managing body appointed by the Governments concerned for the proper working of the new cable system. You informed me that, while you regarded printed forms and books as entitled to exemption from duty, stationery, you contended, did not come within the same category. In my opinion, however, stationery for office purposes is just as essential for the proper working of the Doubtless Bay office as printed forms and books, and I am unable to determine on what grounds you purpose excluding stationery from the list of articles exempted from duty. I shall therefore be obliged if you will reconsider the matter, and direct the proper officer to pass stationery for the Doubtless Bay station without payment of duty. The Secretary for Customs, Wellington. W. Gray, Secretary.

No. 96. The General Manager, Pacific Cable Board, Southport, to the Hon. the PostmasteeGenebal, Wellington. Southport, 22nd April, 1902. Am opening cable to-morrow. Adopting temporarily present terminal rates in Australia and New Zealand for intercolonial traffic. Hope you will soon be able to announce reduction, as rates unfavourable to Pacific Cable.