17

F.—B

The leading Atlantic companies display in their offices daily the times of transmission from the various important business centres in New Zealand and Australia, and these times are usually only a little over an hour. I>m glad to add that the speed and accuracy of the Pacfic route is being gradually recognised and appreciated. I am, &c, C. H. Reynolds, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, General Manager.

No. 59. The Hon. the Prime Minister to the Agent-General. g IB> Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 6th July, 1903. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th May last, trans mitting extract from the British Australasian of the 14th idem., containing .... an article from the New Zealand Herald with respect to the Pacific cable. The publication of the article was very appropriate. I have, &c, R. J. Seddon, Prime Minister. The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 60. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Superintendent, Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay.. (Telegram.) Wellington, 28th July, 1903. I have just read with astonishment the following in the Sydney Morning Herald of the 14th instant : " Pacific Cable Interruption. —Information has been received by the Postmaster-General that a partial interruption has been caused to the Pacific cable line by heavy snow in New Zealand. A detour, however, has been made, and the Nelson cable has been utilised for sending messages." I think it is for you to take up the matter and ascertain who so advised the Postmaster-General, and make what correction you think meets the case. lam inquiring of our officer at Wakapuaka if any intimation came to his office to warrant such a statement.

No. 61. The guPERiNTENDENT, Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Doubtless Bay, 28th July, 1903. These misstatements are annoying. I have sent particulars to Mr. Judd, adding, "It is true that the recent snowstorm interrupted the New Zealand land-lines south of Christchurch, but the Extension's position was not one whit better than that of the Pacific The interruption affected both routes to the same extent. I think it is not too late to widely correct this misstatement. Where did the P.M.G. obtain his inaccurate information ?"

No. 62. The Hon. the Prime Minister to the Agent-General. g IB _ Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 28th July, 1903. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd ultimo, transmitting copy of a memorandum from the General Manager of the Pacific Cable Board on the question of canvassing for business in London. I agree that the objections of the General Manager should not be taken as final; and this opinion is strengthened by the fact that the canvassers in this colony were on several occasions met with the statement that the colonial branches of certain firms were quite willing to send their cable business by the Pacific route, but were hampered by the fact that instructions had been issued by their London head offices to make use of the Eastern Company's cables. Mr. Reynolds is due in the colony in a short time, and the whole matter will then be very forcibly brought under his notice. I hare. &c, The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London. R. J. Seddon.

No. 63. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Chairman, Pacific Cable Board, London. g IE _ General Post Office, Wellington, 29th July, 1903. In continuetion of my letter of the 26th May last [not printed] I have now the honour to forward statement of payments .... made by this Department on the Board's behalf in connection with the late canvass, &c, for cable business. I shall be obliged if you will arrange for a refund being made in the colony. * . i< * * * It was necessary to issue a new table of rates, and " Vid Pacific " rubber-stamps, for general distribution. Special telegraph-forms marked " Vid Pacific," bound in pads of 100 each, had also to toe supplied the public free of charge, following what had been done by the Eastern Extension ompany. . . .

3—F. 8.