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it for the detection of crime,—tho Press use it for the reception of quick intelligence,—and the Community use it for all the ordinary transaction of business with their neighbours in the surrounding Towns and Villages, and I feel assured the New Zealanders would not be slow in appreciating its advantages. Our Sub-Marine Cable has not yet arrived, but is expected daily, I shall therefore doubtless be at liberty to visit you by the middle of July should you desire it. Please acknowledge the above as early as convenient. I have, &c, (Signed) W. 11. Butcher. The Honorable The Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

UNDER SECRETARY NEW ZEALAND, TO MR. BUTCHER. New Zealand, Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 6th July, 1859. Si — lam directed to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 15th May last, and to return you the thanks of this Government for tho very complete information which you have afforded on the subject of the cost of constructing and maintaining Electric Telegraphs in Australia and Tas nania. As was stated in my Letter of the 19th March last, the Government do not feel at liberty to take any steps in the establishment of Electric Telegraphs in New Zealand, until after the meeting of the General Assembly, which will probably take place in March or April next, when it is intended to make a proposal for that purpose. Should such a proposal be sanctioned, the Government will then communicate with you on the subject, if you are still in a position to assist them. I have, &c, W. Gisborne, Under Secretary. W. H. Butcher, Esq., Hobart Town, Tasmania

MR. BUTCHER, TO COLONIAL SECRETARY, NEW ZEALAND. Tasmania, Hobart Town, Oct. 18th, 1859. Sir,— At this late period I do myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication dated July 6th. Having been engaged for the past two months iv repairing the Submarine Cable now laid across Bass' Straits will account for my apparent neglect. I would beg to suggest to your Government, in submitting plans to the Parliament for the construction of Telegraph Lines in New Zealand, that a short Line (say one or two hundred miles) be at first erected as an experiment. This course has been invariably adopted on its introduction by the other Colonies. Its benefits have been so universally felt and acknowledged that little trouble has been experienced in obtaining the means for its extension. I have, &c., W. H. Butcher, The Honorable Telegraph Engineer, the Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

UNDER SECRETARY NEW ZEALAND, TO MR. BUTCHER. New Zealand, Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 10th January, 1860. SiR,With reference to your Letter of the 18th October last, respecting the establishment of Electric Telegraphs in New Zealand, I am directed by Mr. Stafford to inform you that this question will be brought before the Legislature in its next Session, and no action will be taken in the matter until the wishes of the Legislature on the subject have been ascertained. I have, &c., W. Gisborne, W, 11. Butcher, Esq., Under Secretary. Hobart Town, Tasmania.