F.—l

XX

ine several subsidised sea mail-services, the subsidy-payments for the year 1903-4, the dates when established, and the date on which each terminates are shown as follows :—

(a) On basis of payment for outward voyage, which alone is controlled by New Zealand. (t>) Subsidy increased by £50 from Ist January, 1904. («) Subsidy reduced by £86 from Ist January, 1904. (1) Subsidy reduced to £700 for both services from Ist January, 1904. (e) Subsidy reduced by £25 from let January, 1904; frequency increased to twice weekly, and Motueka not included. (1) Subsidy increased by £100 from let January, 1901. (s) Service renewed from March, 1904. (h) Subsidy to be paid in moieties by the Marine and the Post and Telegraph Departments. Benewed from April, 1904. (') From Ist April to 9th November, 1903. (M Prom 10th November, 1903, to 31st March, 190 TBLEGEAPHS. The total value of the telegraph and telephone business for the year ended the 31st March last, including miscellaneous telegraph receipts and Government telegrams, was £261,941 6s. 6Jd., as compared with £248,934 19s. 4d. for the previous year—an increase of £13,006 7s. 2-J-d., or 5-22 per cent. The received cable Press increased; but the cable Press forwarded shows a falling-off compared with the previous year, which was an eventful one. The following is a comparison of the traffic in paid telegrams during the last nine years :— Number. Value. 1895-96 ... 1,899,632 . ... ... ... £92,289 1896-97 ... 2,285,001 Increase, 20-29 per cent. ... 97,453 Increase, 5-60 per cent. 1897-98 ... 2,469,415 „ 8-07 „ ... 96,537 Decrease, 0-94 1898-99 ... 2,717,548 „ 10-05 „ ... 101,104 Increase, 4-73 1899-00 ... 3,159,093 „ 16-25 114,383 „ 13-13 1900-1 ... 3,534,444 „ 11-88 „ ... 126,382 „ 10-49 1901-2 ... 3,850,391 „ 8-94 141,581 „ 12-03 1902-3 ... 4,271,218 „ 10-93 „ ... 153,338 „ 8-30 1903-4 ... 4,671,904 „ 9-38 „ ... 162,498 „ 5-97

Duration of Service. Number of Voyages per Annum. Mileage for Complete Voyage. Service. Annual Subsidy or Payment. When established. When terminated or terminable. Cost per Mile. Auckland and San Francisco Auckland and Fiji Auckland and South Pacific islands Auckland and Devonport Auckland and Great Barrier . Dargaville and Tangiteroria Helensville and Matakohe £ s. d. 1,690 0 0 1,200 0 0 60 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 (450 0 0 I 500 0 0(t>) j 233 0 0 I 147 0 0(°) 102 0 0 25 0 0 44 0 0 (365 0 0 J 475 0 0 ( 700 0 0( d ) 125 0 0 (125 0 0 \ 100 0 0( e ) 50 0 0 (400 0 0 \ 500 0 0(') 600 0 0 April, 1871 June, 1880 June, 1885 Aug., 1863 Oct., 1891 Nov., 1893 Jan., 1881 Nov., 1906 17 13 12 939 52 52 52 5,925 2,334 6,992 6 120 46 118 s. d. 3 2-22(») 1 1-37 0 3-43 0 2-56 0 9-62 0 10-03 0 5-87 Dec, 1906 Dec, 1906 Dec, 1906 Dec, 1906 Helensville and Dargaville Horeke, Kohukohu. Rawene, Koutu, Rangi Point, and Opononi Russell and Opua Whangaroa and Totara North Whangaroa (all boating in harbour) Wellington, Ketu Bay, Homewood, Maori Bay (and other offices), and Havelock Wellington and Motueka Havelock and Bulwer Nelson, Motueka, Totaranui, Takaka, and Collingwood Nelson and Croixelles Westport and Karamea Westport and Little Wanganui .. Hokitika, Okarito, Bruce Bay, Paringa, Haast, Okura, and Jackson's Bay Lyttelton and Chatham Islands (including Pitt Island) (e) Bluff and Half-moon Bay Bluff and Ruapuke Island Bluff and Te Oneroa Interprovincial service in connection with San Francisco line | Jan., 1881 I Jan., 1889 Dec, 906 Dec, 1906 104 52 170 48 0 6-11 1 10-40 Jan., 1889 Jan., 1891 Dec, 1906 Dec, 1903 Dec, 1906 Dec, 1906 156 52 (as required) 26 16 2 0 9-81 \ Dec, 1891 j Nov., 1902 Jan., 1904 'l83 1 6-41 Dec, 1906 Dec, 1906 43 26 ( 52 } 1 104 ) 52 36 12 6 210 64 1 0-62 1 6-03 1 i ' Dec, 1906 130 0 4-44 Jan., 1904 ( June, 1886 1 Jan., 1895 Jan., 1886 Dec, 1906 Dec, 1904 Dec, 1904 ] Dec, 1906 ! 44 102 ) 82 j 384 0 5-24 1. 8-62 5 2-50 300 0 0 Mar., 1904 6 1,050 0 11-43 245 0 0 36 0 0 300 0 0( h ) (4,576 0 O(') 14,076 0 0( k ) July, 1886 Sept., 1903 April, 1893 Dec, 1906 ] Sept., 1904 April, 1904 ! 52 52 12 48 26 208 1 11-56 0 6-39 2 4-85 | Nov., 1886 Nov., 1906 | 17