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No. 13. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington, to the Hon. the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 14th January, 1910. Your letter sth, Canada land-line : Am now advised that Board has practically concluded arrangement lease for five years of Canadian Pacific Railway wire. As this meets position meantime, I have cabled agreeing not to oppose provided steps taken secure State-owned line before expiration lease. [P.C. Fin. mill (,'onstr. 10/B.] No. 14. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington, to the Hon. the Prime Minister of thh: Commonwealth, Melbourne. Sir, — Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 20th January, 1910. I have the honour to confirm my telegram of the 14th instant in reply to your letter of the sth idem. At the best, the lease of the Canadian Pacific Railway wire is a mere palliative, whose efficacy is yet to be proved; and I should be loth to agree to it except on the assumption that there is no doubt of the contributing Governments being in possession of their own wire at the end of the five years. This Dominion is ready to join with other contributing Governments at the earliest moment in opening negotiations for a purchase, and I shall await with interest your next communication in the matter. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, Prime Minister. The Hon. the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, Melbourne. [P.C. Fin. and Constr. 10/10.] DEFERRED CABLE MESSAGES. No. 15. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. Sir,— Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 22nd November, 1909. I have the honour to enclose herein copy of a letter, dated the 11th May last, [No. 25, F.-8, 1909], from the Postmaster-General of the Commonwealth, proposing the introduction of a system of " deferred " telegrams between Australia and the United Kingdom at rates lower than the present ones, in order that the Pacific cable may be used to its fullest extent. The proposal is one with which this Government is in accord. I have therefore to request that you will be so good as to inform the Pacific Cable Board accordingly, and to urge that the matter be favourably considered. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, Prime Minister. The Hon. Wm. Hall-Jones, High Commissioner for New Zealand, London. [P.C. Rates 09/51.] No. 16. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Melbourne. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 24th November, 1909. I have the honour to refer to the Acting Postmaster-General's letter of the 6th July last [No. 26, F.-8, 1909] in reply to yours of the 11th May [No. 25, F.-8, 1909], proposing the introduction of a system of " deferred " telegrams between the Commonwealth of Australia and the United Kingdom at rates lower than the present ones. The proposal has received the consideration of this Government, which has decided to support it. The High Commissioner for the Dominion in London has therefore been requested to inform the Pacific Cable Board accordingly, and to urge that the matter be favourably considered. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Melbourne. J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General. [P.C. Rates 09/48.] _____^^^_^^_^^^__ No. 17. The High Commissioner to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Sir, — Westminister Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London, S.W., 13th January, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd November last, enclosing copy of a letter, dated 11th May last, from the Postmaster-General of the Commonwealth, proposing the introduction of a system of " deferred " telegrams between Australia and the United Kingdom at rates lower than the present ones, in order that the Pacific cable may be used to