F.—B.

RATES; AND ROUTES OF TELEGRAMS.

[Bead here Nos. 255-6.]

No. 127. The Hon. the Postmasteb-General, Wellington, to the Director, International Bureau of Telegraphic Administrations, Berne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 25th April, 1902. Pacific cable now open from New Zealand to Queensland vid Norfolk Island. Bates to Australia, except Tasmania : Ordinary telegrams, forty-five centimes per word; British and Colonial Government telegrams, thirty-five centimes. Bate to Tasmania : Ordinary, fifty-five centimes ; Government, forty-five centimes. Bates to Norfolk Island : Ordinary, thirty centimes ; Government, twenty centimes. Bates co Fiji : Ordinary, eighty centimes; Government, sixty centimes. New Zealand terminal rate on telegrams to and from Australian Commonwealth, including Tasmania, five centimes per word. Terminal rates, telegrams to and from Norfolk Island and Fiji, ten centimes. International telegrams also accepted and transmitted at existing rates.

No. 128. The Secbetabst, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Pacific Cable Board (London), Suva. (Telegram.) Wellington, 19th May, 1902. You probably have heard that outcome negotiations between Commonwealth and Extension Company gives Queensland and Victoria, from Ist proximo, same international rate as New South Wales, South and West Australia, uniform three shillings a word. Press telegram dated Melbourne 15th states this advisedly not done under signed agreement, so that old rates may be reverted to in event Extension Company and Pacific Cable Board failing to come to terms re fair competition. If Commonwealth unable arrange satisfactory agreement with Extension Company question of rates may be reopened. The message also states that Pacific Board will make proposals to Extension Company to avoid war of rates, most important being pooling receipts over certain lines. My object in telegraphing is to learn whether, so far as you know, New Zealand international rate likely to be affected.

[Bead here No. 7.] No. 129. The Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington, to the Director, International Bureau of Telegraphic Administrations, Berne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 30th June, 1902. We advise rate for British Government messages to or from Europe vid Pacific cable two shillings and threepence per word.

No. 130. The Chairman, Pacific Cable Board, London, to the Hon. the Postmastee-General, Wellington. The Pacific Cable Board, 24, Queen Anue's Gate, Sir,— London, S.W., 6th August, 1902. In view of the early opening of the Pacific cable to Europe, kc, it is necessary to consider the tariff arrangements in the event of breakdown either of the cable between Norfolk Island and Southport or of the cable between Norfolk Island and Doubtless Bay, New Zealand. In the former case all outward traffic from Australia would have to be diverted vid Doubtless Bay, the New Zealand land-lines, and the Extension Company's cable to Sydney. In the latter case the outward traffic for New Zealand would have to be diverted vid Southport, the Australian land-lines, and the Extension Company's cable from Sydney to Nelson. The homeward traffic would follow the same routes in an opposite direction. Under the existing tariffs ordinary Australian international traffic would, with the diversion, suffer an increased charge of fourpence per word, being the New Zealand transit rate of Id. and the Extension Cable Company's rate of 3d. Ordinary New Zealand traffic would suffer similarly an increased charge of Bd. per word, being the Australian transit rate of sd. and the Extension Company's charge of 3d. There can be no doubt that the imposition of these extra charges would have the effect of driving all the traffic to the Eastern Extension route, and the Pacific cable route would lose the whole of the traffic with the country for which the extra charge was imposed, to the detriment of the contributing Governments to the Pacific cable.

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