65

F.—B

No. 156. The Genebal Managee, Pacific Cable Board, Suva, to the Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Suva, 20th May, 1902. Assuming Australian intercolonial transit rate La Perouse-Southport one penny and Extension rate threepence, through rates for messages from New Zealand to Suva or Norfolk fourpence per word higher vid Extension than Doubtless Bay and vice versa. Similarly, traffic between Australia and Norfolk or Suva fourpence higher via Extension and New Zealand than direct via Southport. These alternative rates should, I think, be notified to public for use in case interruption

No. 157. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 21st May, 1902. Inteenational rate: Oblige me by advising from what date we may reduce and whether participate in Australian three-shilling rate. We also have to advise Berne.

No. 158. The Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 21st May, 1902. Youb wire 19th :It is expected reduced rates will operate from Ist June. So far as lam aware, New Zealand will not be lower than four and elevenpence. Eastern Extension Company claim that New Zealand rates will be unaltered.

No. 159. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 21st May, 1902. Eastebn Extension Company just advised us that it has " asked Federal Attorney-General to give undertaking that extending reduced international rates to New Zealand will not prejudice existing agreements. (See article 1, Adelaide agreement [No. 176, F.-8, 1900], last sentence, inserted by contracting States). Bates would therefore be —ordinary three shillings, Government two shillings, Press one shilling, plus New Zealand cable rate and your terminal rate in each case." Company has asked what our rates will. be. I therefore assume that from Ist proximo our rate on international ordinary messages will be three and fourpence a word. Do you confirm? [Telegram of text as above from Mr. Warren to Sir Joseph Ward is dated the 21st May.]

No. 160. The Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 22nd May, 1902. Yode two wires of yesterday : Our intimation to Berne of uniform terminal and transit rates, •of which you were advised, includes New Zealand European business. Our rate from June first will be—ordinary, two and sevenpence cable and fivepence terminal; total, three shillings. It will be necessary for you to arrange with Eastern Extension Company as to cable rate, including out-payments, and to add cable charge New Zealand to Australia, your own rate, and our transit of fivepence. If company makes same terms with you as with us, your ordinary rate will be three shillings and fourpence, Government and Press proportionate.

No. 161. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secbetaey, Pacific Cable Board, London. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd May, 1902. I have the honour, by direction, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th March last [No. 113], in reply to the Postmaster-General's letter of the 3rd January, and to thank you for the copy, which you were good enough to send therewith, of correspondence exchanged between the Imperial Post Office and your Board in connection with the request that all "unrouted " cablegrams to and from Australasia should be forwarded by the Pacific cable route. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. The Secretary, Pacific Cable Board, 24, Queen Anne's Gate, London, S.W.

9—F. 8.