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No. 133. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 25th April, 1902. What is your rate Australia-New Zealand Press ?

No. 134. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 25th April, 1902. Following are our cable rates announced to public to-day. Berne advised. Australia, ordinary, fourpence-halfpenny; Government, threepence-halfpenny. Tasmania, ordinary, fivepence-half-penny; Government, fourpence-halfpenny. Government rate applies to Pacific cable only. (Waiting hear from you re Press rates.) Norfolk Island, ordinary, threepence ; Government, twopence. Fiji, ordinary, eightpence ; Government, sixpence ; Press, threepence, plus sixpence per hundred words or fraction. We are accepting international messages Pacific cable, charging five and twopence.

No. 135. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Undeb-Seceetaby, Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 26th April, 1902. Government Gable Telegrams to be sent by Pacific Gable. Now that the Pacific cable is open for intercolonial and European traffic, it has been decided that all Government cable messages shall be sent by that route. Will you therefore see that the Departments are duly advised of this? The messages should be marked in the instructions " Vid Pacific." W. Gbay, Secretary. The Under-Secretary, Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington.

No. 136. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 28th April, 1902. Can you now advise me re Press and international rates ?

No. 137. The Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 28th April, 1902. Your wire 25th instant: Charges on Press telegrams from and to Commonwealth and New Zealand vid Southport and Pacific cable as follows : For telegram not exceeding ten words, including address and signature, one shilling, plus cable charge of one penny per word ; each additional word up to thirty-three words, one halfpenny per word, plus cable charge ; exceeding thirty-three words and up to one hundred words, two shillings, plus cable charge ; each additional fifty words, one shilling plus cable charge ; each additional one hundred words, one shilling and sixpence, plus cable charge. This is same as now in operation between New Zealand and New South Wales. The rate for transit on international telegrams has not yet been decided. Considered that rate for your business vid Queensland cannot be reduced unless that for Queensland reduced to same extent. Under agreement Eastern Extension Company entered into with certain States [No. 176, F.-8., 1900], schedule C of table shows elevenpence transit and terminal for that State, but now considering whether rate for States outside those which made agreement, including New Zealand, cannot be made uniform at fivepence. Our negotiations for penny rate intended to apply to Pacific cable only for present. Understand your halfpenny rate is applied to both cables, but suppose this compulsory with you in consequence of your agreement with Eastern Extension Company.

No. 138. Table of New Zealand Bates, being Schedule to Order in Council dated 28th April, 1902. The New Zealand terminal rate to be levied on cable telegrams to and from the Commonwealth of Australia shall be fixed at per word, and to and from Norfolk Island and Fiji at Id. per word.