F.—B.

No. 97. The Hon. the Postmaster-General to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 6th December, 1902. Have refused request Eastern Company for continuous service. New Zealand's cable business not warrant all-night attendance. Our hours for traffic both cables eight morning to midnight, from Monday.

No. 98. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Superintendent, Eastern Extension Company, Wakapuaka. (Telegram.) Wellington, 6th December, 1902. Press telegram from Wakapuaka this morning's paper states that your company has now abandoned idea of continuous service owing to this Department not agreeing to all-night attendance. Is this correct ? My latest advices from Mr. Warren are in effect that you inaugurate a continuous service from Monday next.

No. 99. The Superintendent, Eastern Extension Company, Wakapuaka, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Wakapuaka, 6th December, 1902. Yes ; quite correct. I received advice from Mr. Warren yesterday evening, and thought it advisable to arrange for hours of duty before I communicated with you. From Bth cable will open at 7.30 a.m., New Zealand time, and remain open until 10.30 p.m. or clear. Midnight Press service as usual.

No. 100. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to Sir Sandfobd Fleming, Ottawa. g IE General Post Office, Wellington, 10th December, 1902. I have the honour to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of a copy of your memorandum of the 14th June last, on the subject of the Pacific cable and the telegraph service of the Empire, submitted for the information and consideration of members of the Coronation Conference. I again offer you my sincerest congratulations on the completion of the Pacific cable, and its opening for international traffic on Monday last. Your able and persistent advocacy of the scheme has been invaluable in bringing about the consummation of the undertaking. I have, &c, Sir Sandford Fleming, K.C.M.G., Ottawa. J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General.

No. 101. The Hon. the Prime Minister to the Agent-General. g IE Premier's Office, Wellington, 10th December, 1902. Eeferring to your letter of the 25th June last, advising the amount of New Zealand's proportion of the interest and expenses to be incurred in connection with the Pacific cable, I have now the honour to inform you that the sum of £10,000 has been imprested to you through the Treasury on this account. Should the full proportion be required, arrangements will be made later on to remit the balance. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, For the Prime Minister. The Hon. W. P. Eeeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 102. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Superintendent, Pacific Cable, Station, Doubtless Bay. (Telegram.) Wellington, 14th December, 1902. Could you supply particulars about Canadian lines — the outlets for Pacific traffic, and the interruptions, partial or complete, this winter ? Also, the number of interruptions last winter, if inconsequential, would assist to discount effect of suggestions as to unreliability Vancouver route. .... Is code time likely to be inserted ?

No. 103. The Superintendent, Pacific Cable, Doubtless Bay, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Doubtless Bay, 16th December, 1902. Following from Kent, Manager, Canadian Pacific Eailways Telegraphs : " Our wires to the Pacific Coast are very rarely interrupted. The sections by whom the railway is constantly patrolled are

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