F.—B

54

HATES; AND ROUTES OF TELEGRAMS.

No. 110. The Chaibman, Pacific Cable Board, London, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal Wellington. Sic, — 24, Queen Anne's Gate, London, S.W., 29th July, 1901. 1 have the honour, on behalf of this Board, to forward to you the accompanying copy of a communication which has been addressed to it by the Postmaster-General in reply to an application that he would be so good as to transmit all unrouted messages to Australasia on the line of this company, so soon and so long as its cable shall be in efficient operation. [See also No. 10.] I am asked by the Board to express a hope that the Government of New Zealand will be so good as to give the same preference, on the same condition, to messages from Australasia for Europe. I am, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. S. Walpole, Chairman.

Enclosure in No. 110. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, London, to the Chairman, Pacific Cable Board. Sic, — General Post Office, London, 2nd July, 1901. With reference to your letter of the 12th ultimo, explaining the arrangements which the Pacific Cable Board propose to make for the transmission between this country and Vancouver of telegrams to and from Australasia, and renewing your application that all " unrouted" telegrams from the United Kingdom for stations in Australasia included in the system of the Pacific cable may be forwarded by that route, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acquaint you that this Department will be prepared to comply with your request, provided that the rapidity of the service by the Pacific route is as great as, and the rates not higher than, by any other route, on the understanding that any question with regard to the comparative rapidity of transmission is to be determined by this Department within its own discretion. I am, &c, The Chairman, Pacific Cable Board. G. H. Muebay.

No. 111. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Peemiee. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sic,— 6th December, 1901. I beg to transmit copy of letter from the Pacific Cable Board, asking for information as to the terminal and transit charges which the Government determine to fix from or to the frontier station of Doubtless Bay. The Board are anxious to obtain this information as soon as possible, and I therefore venture to suggest that, if necessary, the decision of the Government with respect to these rates be transmitted to me by telegraph. I have, &c. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure in No. 111. The Geneeal Manager, Pacific Cable Board, to the Agent-Geneeal. The Pacific Cable Board, 24, Queen Anne's Gate, S.W., 3rd December, 1901. Sir, — Transit Rates for Messages to and from the Pacific Gable. In order to get out the necessary message registers, abstracts, &c, which are to be brought into use at the Pacific cable station at Doubtless Bay, New Zealand, and to make all other arrangements for the settlement of message accounts between the New Zealand Government and the Pacific Cable, it is desirable that the Board should be advised as early as possible— (1.) What the terminal charges per word will be for messages originating in or addressed to New Zealand which traverse any portion of the Pacific cable, and are transferred to this cable or received from it at Doubtless Bay station ; (2.) The transit charge per word for any Pacific cable traffic which may traverse the lines of the New Zealand Government between the Doubtless Bay station of the Pacific cable and the terminal station in New Zealand of the Eastern Extension Company's cables, or the terminal station of any other cablejhat may be laid from the shores of New Zealand. It is expected that the cable from Australia to New Zealand will be opened for public traffic to Norfolk Island and the Fijis in April or May next, and it is necessary to notify to the various