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No. 25. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Superintendent, Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 29th August, 1903. Referring to your letter of the 11th instant, I beg to inform you that a voucher for the sum of £298 Is. sd. has been passed for payment to your Board, being the proportion of salary due by this Department on account of staff at Doubtless Bay for the period from the Ist April, 1902, to the 31st March, 1903. Yours, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. The Superintendent, Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay.

No. 26. The Secretary, Pacific Cable Board, London, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Pacific Cable Board, 24, Queen Anne's Gate, London, S.W., Sir,— 22nd September, 1903. I am directed by the Pacific Cable Board to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th July, enclosing accounts of expenditure incurred on this Board's behalf by your own Department and. that of your Government's Public Works, amounting to £35 Is. 2d. and £5,918 lis. 4d. respectively. I have to-day received from Mr. Hertslet, the Board's Superintendent at Doubtless Bay, the duplicates referred to in your letter, duly certified by him as being correct with the exception of certain items authorised by the Board but of which Mr. Hertslet had no knowledge. In accordance with these accounts, instructions have been given to the Bank of New Zealand to direct the payment of the total amount of £5,953 12s. 6d. to the Postmaster-General, Sir Joseph Ward. I am also directed to convey to Sir J. G. Ward the thanks of the Board for the very active assistance extended them by your Government in all matters connected with the introduction and administration of the Pacific cable in New Zealand. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Hugh Latham, Secretary.

No. 27. The Hon. the Prime Minister to the General Manager, Pacific Cable Board, at Wellington. Sir,— Wellington, 28th September, 1903. Referring to our conversation respecting site and wharf for cable purposes at Auckland, should it be decided to change from Fiji, I have the honour to inform you that if the company decide to make Auckland its depot the New Zealand Government would be prepared to furnish a site there and provide the necessary equipments; and in making any recommendations to your Board you may state that such an offer has been made by this Government. I have, &c, C. H. Reynolds, Esq., R. J. Seddon. General Manager, Pacific Cable Board, Wellington.

No. 28. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Inspector of Telegraphs, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, 30th September, 1903. Mr. Reynolds arrives this morning. He is to look into matter of site for depot with deep-water frontage, admitting of wharf being inexpensively built. Understand there is Government land near fortifications and sugar-works. Will you assist Mr. Reynolds in his examination, and confer with Secretary, Harbour Board, and District Engineer, whom I have telegraphed ?

No. 29. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the District Engineer, Public Works Department, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, 30th September, 1903. Will you see Mr. Meddings re site with deep-water frontage in connection with depot and wharf for Pacific Cable Board. Mr. Reynolds, General Manager, arrives in Auckland this morning. He has been in communication with Government. The Premier thinks there are suitable sites near fortifications and sugar-works.

No. 30. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Harbour Board, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, 30th September, 1903. Mr. Reynolds, General Manager, Pacific Cable, arrives Auckland this morning. He purposes inquiring about suitable site for depot with deep-water frontage for wharf for repairing-steamer " Iris." Will you facilitate his inquiries in every way? Probably Board has suitable site,